Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to stop the war in Ukraine with an agreed ceasefire that recognizes the current battle lines, but is ready to continue the war if Kiev and the West do not react, four Russian sources told Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Three of the sources familiar with the discussions in Putin's entourage said the Russian president had expressed to a small group of advisers his frustration with the West's thwarting of the talks and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision not to negotiate with him.
„Putin can fight as long as necessary, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire - to freeze the war,” said the fourth senior Russian source who has worked with the Russian president and is familiar with the talks highest level in the Kremlin.
He, like the others quoted in this material, requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Reuters said it spoke to a total of five people who work or have worked with Putin at high levels in politics and business. The fifth source did not comment on the war freeze on the current front lines, the agency said.
In response to a request for comment, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian president has repeatedly made it clear that Russia is open to dialogue to achieve its goals and indicated that the country does not want an "perpetual war”.
The ministries of foreign affairs and defense of Ukraine did not comment on the information. One of the sources predicted that no deal could be reached while Zelensky is in power, unless Russia bypasses him and makes a deal with Washington. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who was visiting Kiev last week, told reporters he did not believe Putin was interested in serious talks.