Putin Reaffirms Russia’s Terms for Ending Ukraine War, Rejects Shift Amid U.S. Pressure
Putin: Russia's Ukraine war terms unchanged despite Trump's 10-day warning. 'Ready to wait for talks,' he says, as Zelensky insists on leader-level negotiations to end conflict.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday reiterated that Moscow's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine remain unchanged, emphasizing that resolving the conflict must involve addressing root causes rather than temporary ceasefires. His remarks came despite recent warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who cautioned that Russia has “only ten days” left to strike an agreement with Ukraine.
Speaking on Friday, Putin reaffirmed, “Our position for a permanent and sustainable peace with Ukraine must be founded on strong principles and mutual consent, with full guarantees for the security of both nations.” He underlined that Russia's aims in Ukraine are unchanged, and so are the preconditions for halting the war.
“If Kyiv believes now is not the time for negotiations, we are prepared to wait for a more suitable moment,” Putin added, pointing out that three negotiation rounds have taken place so far, and Moscow remains open to continuing dialogue.
In a pointed remark, the Russian leader stated, “If someone is hopeless, it is because they make too many assumptions about the outcome.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his demand for negotiations to take place at the presidential level, asserting that “it is clear who makes the decisions in Russia, and who has the power to end this war.”
Drone Interceptions and Civilian Toll Mount
Against the backdrop of diplomatic posturing, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed 60 Ukrainian drones overnight between July 31 and August 1. According to a statement carried by Sputnik News, the aerial vehicles were neutralized over several regions between 11:30 p.m. and 4:10 a.m. Moscow time.
In response, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry reported a sharp rise in casualties from Russian airstrikes that struck Kyiv on Thursday. The ministry confirmed that 26 people had been killed and 159 injured, following a combination of missile and drone attacks. Rescuers pulled ten bodies from the rubble of a residential building in the Sviatoshynsky district, further underscoring the human cost of the ongoing conflict.
Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine must never become a member of NATO, and it continues to reject the deployment of peacekeeping forces near its borders. Russian authorities have also made clear that their military forces will not withdraw from several southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, areas under their current control.
Despite mounting pressure from Western capitals, Putin’s latest comments make clear that Russia's strategic objectives in Ukraine are far from negotiable, and any future settlement will depend on terms set by Moscow.
The conflict, now in its third year, continues to generate international alarm as military escalations and diplomatic stalemates push any resolution further out of reach.
