DDHK. ORG – Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine. As stated President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (22/12/2022) said, Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine and involve a diplomatic solution. News this is certainly what the world has been waiting for.
As reported Republika, Putin made the statement a day after United States (US) President Joe Biden hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House and promised continued support.
“Our aim is not to turn the wheel of military conflict, but on the contrary, to end this war. We will try to end this, and of course the sooner the better," said Putin.
So far, Russia has often said that they are open to negotiations. But Ukraine and its allies suspect Russia's stance is a ploy to buy time, after Moscow's forces have suffered a series of defeats and been pushed back from a number of Ukrainian territories.
"I have said many times, the intensification of hostilities leads to unjustified losses," Putin said.
“All armed conflicts end one way or another with some kind of negotiation on the diplomatic route. Sooner or later, any side in a state of conflict sits down and makes an agreement. The sooner this realization comes to those who oppose us, the better. We have never given up on this," Putin continued.
Russia says it is Ukraine that refuses to talk and negotiate. Ukraine meanwhile says Russia must stop its attacks and give up all the territory it has seized.
Putin also downplayed the importance of the Patriot air defense system the US is planning to send to Ukraine. He said the Patriot system was "quite old" and did not work like the Russian S-300 system. Putin emphasized that Russia can destroy the Patriot system.
“An antidote will always be found. So those who do it are in vain. It only prolongs the conflict," Putin continued.
Putin also highlighted price caps on Russian oil agreed upon by Western countries. These price caps were designed to limit Russia's ability to finance the war.
Putin confirmed that the price limit would not damage the Russian economy. Putin said next week he would sign a decree setting out Russia's response to the price cap.
Meanwhile, White House spokesman John Kirby said Putin had shown absolutely no indication that he was willing to negotiate an end to the war.
Kirby reiterated that Biden is open to talks with Putin if the Russian leader shows seriousness about negotiations after consulting Ukraine and US allies.
“Precisely the opposite. Everything he (Putin) has done on the ground and in the air shows a man who wants to continue to commit violence against the Ukrainian people and escalate the war," Kirby said. [DDHK News]
