Vladimir Putin said ahead of a state visit to China that he is willng to negotiate over Ukraine. Russian forces have continued an offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is willing to negotiate over Ukraine.
Putin, who led the invasion into Ukraine in February 2022, said he is “open to a dialogue.” “Such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours,” Putin said in an interview with Chinese media outlet the official Xinhua News Agency. Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are due to meet on Thursday.
“We have never refused to negotiate,” Mr Putin was quoted as saying by Xinhua. “We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours.”
In the war, Russian forces have pressed an offensive in the Kharkiv region causing 8,000 people to flee their homes. Ukrainian army chiefs have said there is “heavy fighting” in the region as Russian troops pushed on with air and ground offensives..
These are Moscow’s most significant gains since Kyiv’s forces recaptured the Kharkiv region in 2022. And further south, the Russian defence ministry said their forces have now taken full control of the town of Robotyne.
Along with Moscow’s efforts to build on its gains in the nearby Donetsk region, the two-year-old war has entered a critical stage for Ukraine’s depleted military, which is awaiting new supplies of anti-aircraft missiles and artillery shells from the United States.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said they were desperately trying to help. He said: “We’re rushing ammunition, armoured vehicles, missiles, air defences to get them to the front lines. For anyone who is tempted to bet against Ukraine, don’t – It will be a big mistake.
“The people on the frontlines, they need that support and they will get it.” He added: “We’ve been through challenging times together, I have every confidence that together we will get through these difficult moments.”
Ukraine made some strikes back, forcing Russia to shut a major airport in Kazan because of an Ukrainian drone attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said any negotiations must involve the withdrawal of Russian troops and for Ukraine’s territory to be restored.
Zelensky is also demanding the release of prisoners, security guarantees and a tribunal for the perpetrators of the war. Zelensky today suddenly cancelled planned visits to Spain and Portugal after Russia continued to make advances in the northeast of the country.
He made the decision as the United States rushed to get key supplies up to the border to shore up Ukraine’s defences. Zelensky had been due to make the trip in the next 48 hours to sign a bilateral security agreement with Spain. But sources in Portugal said the cancellation was forced by the “serious internal situation in Ukraine at the moment.”
Russia and China
Russian and Chinese relations have continued, with Putin’s visit to Beijing this week the first of his fifth term as president. The Kremlin said in a statement that during their talks, Mr Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will ‘have a detailed discussion on the entire range of issues related to the comprehensive partnership and strategic co-operation’.
It added the talks aim to ‘determine the new directions for further development of co-operation between Russia and China and also have a detailed exchange of opinions on the most acute international and regional issues.’ The two countries have held joint military drills, including naval drills and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.
China imports Russian gas while high-tech developments in China allow Russia to get around sanctions and strengthen the capability of its military. China has backed Russia politically in the conflict in Ukraine and has continued to export machine tools, electronics and other items seen as contributing to the Russian war effort, without actually exporting weaponry.
But China has remained neutral in the conflict, though declared a “no limits” relationship with Russia. Both countries have continued to alarm and concern the West over major issues such as human rights.