Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that an agreement to end the war in Ukraine is possible, despite what he described as Ukrainian threats against civilian aircraft in Russian airspace.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin noted that several nations, including the United States and China, are willing to support a peace settlement. However, he maintained that Russia and Ukraine must primarily negotiate and reach an understanding between themselves to resolve the conflict.
Vladivostok is a major Russian port city on the Pacific Ocean near the borders of China and North Korea. The annual Eastern Economic Forum brings international political and business leaders to Russia's Far East to discuss regional economic development and foreign relations.
The Ukrainian government also signaled renewed optimism on Thursday regarding diplomatic talks. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha predicted a new momentum in peace efforts, pointing to an active phase of diplomatic and political engagement across world capitals.
Sybiha declined to provide specific details when questioned by reporters about the upcoming diplomatic steps. Instead, he offered a brief response, telling journalists to stay tuned for the news.
Diplomatic meetings and airspace disputes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he plans to hold meetings with United States officials in the coming days to discuss potential avenues for ending the war with Russia.
Tensions over aviation safety escalated alongside diplomatic statements. Zelensky promised to make Russian airspace dangerous, prompting Putin to accuse Ukraine of committing state terrorism.
German sanctions over drone incident
Putin also addressed recent diplomatic friction with Germany during his appearance at the forum. He described German sanctions imposed on Russia following a drone incident in Leipzig as another mistake.
Germany has previously targeted Russian entities with sanctions over security incidents and military operations in Europe. Leipzig, located in eastern Germany, is home to key transport hubs that have been sensitive locations during ongoing European security assessments.
