President Putin believes Ukraine should take the initiative in negotiations.
(Baonghean.vn) - President Putin declared that Russia is ready to find a way to resolve the situation surrounding Ukraine, regardless of the stance of Western countries and Kyiv itself, which has banned negotiations with Moscow.
President Putin emphasized that Ukraine should now take the initiative in peace negotiations. "I believe the ball is now entirely in their favor," he said.
The key for Russia lies in Ukraine's neutrality, as stated in its declaration of independence: "The declaration clearly states that Ukraine is a neutral country. And for us, this is of fundamental importance. Why the West is trying to draw Ukraine into NATO, we really don't understand."
The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow did not violate the UN Charter, but on the contrary acted entirely in accordance with it. This included recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in 2022, and deciding to assist these two republics with a special military operation.
President Putin assessed that the peace initiative proposed by Africa has similarities to China's plan.
South African President Cyril Ramaposa stated that restoring peace is in the interest of both Russia and Ukraine. He added that African leaders support peace in many ways, and one of them is their presence at this summit.
The African peace initiative in Ukraine, proposed in June, comprises 10 key points. These include calls for peace through negotiations to begin as soon as possible, de-escalation of conflict, guaranteeing the sovereignty of states and peoples in accordance with the UN Charter, and ensuring security for all nations. The only difference from China's peace plan is the call for closer cooperation with African countries.
