Putin says US-backed peace plan as framework is OK ‘in general’

Russian person says Ukraine indispensable cede cardinal territory and the satellite indispensable recognise Russia’s gains.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has expressed optimism astir a draught United States-backed bid program for Ukraine, saying it could service arsenic the instauration for a aboriginal woody that Russia is acceptable for “serious” treatment on.

Speaking to reporters Thursday portion connected a authorities sojourn to Kyrgyzstan, Putin acknowledged the US had taken Russia’s presumption into relationship successful negotiations, but said immoderate issues inactive needed to beryllium hammered out.

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“In general, we hold that this tin beryllium the ground for aboriginal agreements,” helium said of the draught plan.

The Russian person besides confirmed United States President Donald Trump’s peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff would soon question to Moscow for much talks, which helium said should absorption connected Russia-controlled Donbas and Crimea.

The US past week revealed a 28-point bid program for Ukraine that was wide viewed arsenic excessively favourable to Russia, including calling for Kyiv to marque large territorial concessions and wantonness its NATO ambitions. The program has since been altered with Ukrainian input, nixing a 600,000-member headdress connected Ukraine’s service and a wide warfare crimes amnesty, said Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya.

However, the afloat details of the latest connection person not been disclosed.

Putin, successful his latest remarks, said determination is nary last mentation of the program to talk of.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s main of unit Andriy Yermak said Thursday that US and Ukrainian officials volition proceed to enactment connected the plan.

‘Ukrainian troops indispensable withdraw’

Despite Putin’s evident openness to a settlement, helium insisted Russia is consenting to support warring the nearly four-year war that has killed oregon wounded hundreds of thousands connected each broadside if Ukraine does not springiness up cardinal territory.

“Ukrainian troops indispensable retreat from the territories they hold, and past the warring volition cease. If they don’t leave, past we shall execute this by equipped means. That’s it,” Putin said, claiming Russian forces are advancing successful Ukraine astatine a faster pace.

The Russian person besides said immoderate aboriginal statement indispensable admit Russia’s territorial gains successful Ukraine and beryllium accepted by the planetary community, adding that helium views Ukraine’s existent enactment arsenic illegitimate.

Russia sentences alleged Crimea span attackers

Putin’s remarks travel the aforesaid time a Russian tribunal issued a verdict successful a deadly 2022 motortruck weaponry attack claimed by Ukraine’s concealed services.

The subject tribunal successful the Russian metropolis of Rostov-on-Don handed beingness sentences to 8 men accused of helping Ukraine’s concealed services transportation retired the bombing, which ripped done a span linking confederate Russia to Russian-annexed Crimea and damaged what was a cardinal proviso way for Russian forces warring successful Ukraine.

The bridge, seen by some Ukraine and Russia arsenic a awesome of Moscow’s 2014 seizure and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, was personally inaugurated by Putin successful 2018.

The defendants successful the case, convicted of “terrorism” and arms trafficking, maintained their innocence.