According to the Kremlin, Putin is willing to discuss and negotiate Ukraine.
Reuters, December 2, Moscow - In response to Joe Biden's suggestion that he was willing to meet with President Vladimir Putin about a potential resolution to the situation in Ukraine, the Kremlin declared on Friday that President Putin is amenable to discussions and believes in a diplomatic solution.
The only way to end the war in Ukraine, according to Biden, was for Putin to withdraw his forces, and if Putin wanted to end the conflict, Biden would be willing to speak with him. Biden was speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
When asked about Biden's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov adopted a conciliatory tone, saying that while Putin remained open to talks, Russia would not leave Ukraine.
In order to protect our interests, the president of the Russian Federation has always been, is, and will remain open to negotiations, Peskov told reporters.
Putin has stated that he has no regrets about starting what he refers to as Russia's "special military operation" against Ukraine, portraying it as a turning point where, after decades of humiliation following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia finally stood up to haughty Western hegemony.
Putin, according to Ukraine and the West, lacks justification for what they describe as an occupation war in the style of imperialism. Ukraine has declared that it will fight until the last Russian soldier has left its borders.
TALKS?
Speaking at the White House, Biden said that he and Macron had made a joint commitment to hold Putin accountable for what he called a "barbaric" war and that it was inconceivable that Putin could ever defeat Ukraine.
Putin made a mistake by invading Ukraine, according to Biden, who stated in March that Putin could not remain in power, but that if he was sincere about leaving Ukraine, he would be happy to sit down with Putin after consulting with NATO allies.
A fifth of Ukraine's post-Soviet territory has been claimed by Russia, annexations that the West and Ukraine say they would never recognise.
The United States' refusal to recognise "the new areas" as Russian, according to Peskov, is impeding efforts to find a workable agreement.
This makes finding common ground for dialogue much more difficult, according to Peskov.
When asked if conversations with Russia were unlikely due to the way Biden was presenting future contacts, Peskov responded: "That's essentially what Biden stated. He claimed that only once Putin has left Ukraine are conversations feasible."
According to Peskov, the Kremlin could not accept it, hence the Russian military action in Ukraine will continue.
"President Putin has, is, and will continue to be open to contacts and negotiations, albeit it is crucial to mention this in tandem. Of course, using peaceful, diplomatic tactics to advance our goals is the best option."
Tens of thousands of soldiers have died in the fight on both sides, and it has led to the largest standoff between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
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