Russian President Vladimir Putin told NBC News’ Keir Simmons that “the ball is entirely in the court” of Ukraine and the West in peace talks as he praised Trump’s “serious” and “sincere” efforts to end the war.
Simmons asked Putin during a news conference in Moscow today whether, given that Kyiv has agreed to enormous compromises, he would be responsible for the deaths of Russians and Ukrainians next year if there is no deal.
The Russian leader said no. “We do not consider ourselves responsible for the loss of life, because it was not us who started this war,” he said.
“At the meeting with President Trump in Anchorage, we coordinated our positions and almost agreed with President Trump’s proposals,” Putin said, referring to the duo’s summit in Alaska.
“Therefore, to say that we are rejecting anything is absolutely incorrect and has no basis whatsoever. At the preliminary meetings in Moscow, proposals were made to us and we were asked to agree to certain compromises. When I arrived in Anchorage, I said that these would not be easy decisions for us, but that we agree to the compromises being proposed. Therefore, to claim that we are rejecting something is completely incorrect and has no grounds,” Putin said.
He added: “The issue lies entirely on the other side, the ball is entirely in the court of our so-called Western adversaries, first and foremost the leaders of the Kyiv regime and, in this case especially, their European sponsors. We are ready for negotiations and to settle the conflict by peaceful means.”