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Open for Dialogue: Putin Ready to Negotiate, Including with Zelensky - Open Dialogue Proposed by Putin, Even Considering Discussion with Zelensky
It seems Putin's got some chat on his mind! The Russian president expressed his readiness for conversations with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, under certain conditions, as per whispered conversations with DPA news agency in cozy St. Petersburg.
Russian Ties with Germany: Ripped at the Seams?
If Merz's feeling bold and wants a chinwag, Russia's all ears! "You name the time and place," Putin quipped, adding that they're always open to such contacts. But here's a twist — Putin ain't seeing Germany as a suiting mediator during the conflict with Ukraine, simply because they're on Ukraine's side, supplying tanks, and gearing up for a rumble!
Since Merz took the reins in May, the Kremlin leader's yet to catch his call, yet he's repeatedly begged Putin to shout "Uncle!" and throw in the towel on the war against Ukraine. So far, those pleas have fallen on deaf ears, and deaaaad horses. Denmark's always been Moscow's frenemy on this one, and Merz's sterner than a bowl of gruel to Russia's liking.
Moscow raised a ruckus over arms deliveries to Ukraine and going apeshit over the thought of Kyiv scoring the Taurus cruise missile for assaults on Russian turf. Putin declared that Germany's indulgence in such antics would have zilch impact on the war's trajectory in Ukraine.
You might be wondering what's the beef between Russia and Germany? Well, it's all warm and fuzzy like a snowball in Hades. Moscow's got a bone to pick with Germany, beginning with a 2015 hacker attack on the Bundestag, a 2019 Georgian murder, an arson truck attack, up to recent spying shenanigans on the Bundeswehr. But ol' Putin hush-hushed all that while omitting a series of tussles.
Zelenskyy and Putin: Could They Share Air?
Putin claims he's ready to sit down with Zelenskyy, if the right moment presents itself. "Zelenskyy could be next on my hit-list," he winked. Putin then questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy, as his five-year term ended, yet no elections could happen due to martial law. Unsurprisingly, Zelenskyy's camp argues otherwise. Putin also pushed for direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, suggesting a continuation of the talks in Istanbul under Turkish leadership.
Putin's Chat with Western Scribes
The annual face-off between Putin and Western journalists kicked off at the revamped conservatory in St. Petersburg during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), alrighty then. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov spun a yarn that Putin wanted to air Russia's stance in raw, unedited form during the powwow with Western news agencies. Putin uses SPIEF as a platform to throw Russia in the global limelight and flaunt his chops amid international isolation yanked by the West. Moreover, SPIEF functions as a getaway for circumventing sanctions imposed on Mother Russia, contending that those penalties are illegitimate.
Moscow's foreseeing a ballooning throng of 20,000 participants from 140 countries hootin' and hollerin' at SPIEF by Saturday's close. Traditionally, Putin drops an economic policy speech on Friday, followed by a Q&A session on a panel the next day.
Moscow keeps fermenting economic growth, despite crippled relations, courtesy of its war economy and resource exports. However, inflation's on a tear, and interest rates are sky-high, cramping investments. Still, businessfolk and speakers from Western jurisdictions remain FUD-free, and the forum's steaming ahead.
- Vladimir Putin
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Russia
- Friedrich Merz
- Ukraine
- Moscow
- Germany
- Kremlin
- Kyiv
- Taurus cruise missile
- St. Petersburg
- Conflict
Enrichment Data:
Putin's preferred meeting with Zelenskyy would be during the final, decisive stage of negotiations, focusing on a peaceful settlement instead of drawn-out talks that divide issues. However, Russian demands for the conflict, such as Ukrainian troop withdrawal from occupied territories and written guarantees from Western powers against NATO expansion, remain unacceptable to Ukraine, which insists on sovereignty and security assurances.
Germany-Russia relations have deeply soured due to the conflict, with Germany joining the Western alliance supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. The resulting disruptions in economic relations and cooperation have necessitated re-examination of Germany's energy dependencies on Russia and a push to diversify energy sources and increase defense spending.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, as policy-and-legislation discussions continue amidst global politics.
- As the general-news landscape is dominated by war-and-conflicts, the potential for dialogue between Putin and Zelenskyy, even under the right circumstances, is a contentious issue that reflects the complex politics involved in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.
