In his first public appearance of the new year, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the credential presentation ceremony for newly appointed foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin, where he also addressed international developments, including the future of the conflict in Ukraine.
“We believe it would be worthwhile to return to a substantive discussion on these issues in order to determine the conditions under which a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine can be achieved — and the sooner, the better,” the Russian leader said.
However, Putin noted that not all parties are currently willing to engage in such dialogue, including Kyiv and the countries supporting it, while expressing hope that recognition of this necessity would come “sooner or later.”
Until then, he said, Russia will continue to pursue its objectives:
“It is no coincidence that people say peace does not come by itself — it is built every day. Peace requires effort, responsibility, and a conscious choice.”
Commenting on security and the origins of the Ukrainian crisis, Putin stated that:
“The security of some countries cannot be ensured at the expense of others. The Ukrainian crisis was caused by the disregard of Russia’s legitimate interests.”
Regarding bilateral relations, he emphasized Moscow’s readiness to resume dialogue with Europe:
“Moscow is prepared to return to dialogue with European countries.”
