Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the need for Europe’s involvement in the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine but insists that rebuilding trust with the United States must come first.
In an interview with Russian state television, Putin suggested that a peace deal remains distant, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. He acknowledged U.S. President Donald Trump’s rational approach to the conflict but noted that the end of the war might not come as swiftly as hoped.
“We only agreed that we would move toward this. And in this case, of course, we are not refusing the participation of European countries,” Putin said.
He clarified that recent talks in Riyadh were focused on fostering trust between Moscow and Washington, with Europe not directly involved in those discussions.
“In order to resolve complex and rather acute issues, such as those related to Ukraine, both Russia and the United States must take the first step,” Putin stated. “This first step should be devoted to increasing the level of trust between the two states.”
While stressing the importance of U.S.-Russia dialogue, Putin reaffirmed Europe’s role in future negotiations, adding, “We never rejected that, we held constant discussions with them.”
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