MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that an agreement to end the war in Ukraine was possible, while Kyiv said it expected a renewed push for peace talks.
Putin, speaking at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East, said several countries, including the United States and China, were prepared to support efforts to reach a settlement.
“Ultimately, however, the problem must be resolved by the countries involved in the conflict — Russia and Ukraine,” Putin said.
“We are grateful to everyone attempting to contribute to a settlement. Is there a chance? In my view, yes, there is.”
His comments were echoed cautiously in Kyiv, where Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he expected a new phase of diplomatic engagement.
“I believe that we will now have a new dynamic in the peace efforts, with the return of this active phase of political and diplomatic engagement in many capitals around the world,” Sybiha told reporters.
He did not provide details, instead telling journalists to “follow the news”.
The relatively positive assessments from both sides come after more than four years of war, with previous US-mediated negotiations failing to produce a breakthrough. Putin and Ukrainian representatives last met for talks in February.
Fighting continues despite peace signals
The diplomatic signals have emerged alongside continued military escalation.
Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range drone and missile attacks against targets deep inside each other’s territory, while fighting at sea has also increased, including attacks involving ports and commercial shipping.
The disruption has raised concerns over global food supplies and contributed to movements in international grain markets. Chicago wheat futures fell more than 2% following Putin’s remarks.
Neither Putin nor Sybiha, however, pointed to a specific development that would suggest an imminent breakthrough in negotiations.
Putin instead accused Ukraine of taking actions that could complicate the prospects for peace talks.
He described alleged Ukrainian attacks on civilian merchant ships and reported threats against civilian aircraft as “acts of state terrorism”, saying such incidents made bilateral negotiations more difficult.
Ukraine has denied any intention of targeting civilian aircraft.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurance companies this week that the presence of Ukrainian drones had made Russian airspace unsafe. He said Ukraine’s military operations would be directed at Russian military facilities and would not threaten civilian aircraft.
Kyiv has also asked the UN aviation agency to call on member states to prohibit operations in Russian airspace.
Ukraine’s own airspace has remained closed to international civil aviation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 because of the continuing security risks.
Russia says contacts with Ukraine continue
Putin said communication between Moscow and Kyiv had not stopped, although he questioned whether the contacts were bringing the two sides closer to a peace agreement.
“It is difficult for me to say right now to what extent these contacts are leading to a peace agreement,” he said, citing recent statements from Ukraine’s leadership.
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“However, contacts do exist and are continuing on an ongoing basis — again, primarily through intelligence channels.”
The comments suggest that, despite the absence of formal high-level negotiations, channels between the two countries remain open.
India offers to help
India also signalled its willingness to support diplomatic efforts.
Speaking in Kyiv alongside Sybiha, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said New Delhi was prepared to assist in efforts to end the conflict.
“If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there,” Jaishankar said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Putin on Monday that the war needed to end for humanitarian reasons and said India would support efforts aimed at stopping the fighting.
India has maintained relations with both Moscow and Kyiv while positioning itself as a potential diplomatic interlocutor.
For now, however, the latest statements from Moscow and Kyiv represent an expression of willingness rather than evidence of an agreed negotiating framework.
The continued attacks and sharply differing positions on security, territory and the conduct of the war remain major obstacles to any lasting settlement.
