On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized his desire to “eliminate” the “causes” of the conflict in Ukraine and to “ensure the security” of Russia, following recent direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow, the first since the spring of 2022.
During an interview with state television, Putin stated that Moscow’s goal is to “address the issues that led to this crisis and create the necessary conditions for lasting peace while safeguarding the Russian state.”
However, the discussions that took place in Istanbul earlier this week did not lead to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has been raging since February 2022.