Putin: Resolving the Ukraine War Requires Ensuring Security of Both Countries and Discussing European Security

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow remains ready to negotiate and find a settlement to the conflict in Ukraine, considering reaching an agreement "a possible matter."

RT television quoted Putin as saying that Russia is prepared to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine regarding the conflict that has lasted more than four and a half years.

He added: "Russia is ready to resume trilateral contacts regarding Ukraine, aiming to reach a final peace agreement, not merely a suspension of hostilities."

He clarified that the anticipated trilateral negotiations will aim to reach agreements that guarantee the future security of Russia and Ukraine.

Putin: Russia is not preparing for war with Europe
The Russian president said it is inappropriate for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speak about losing territory "after residents of historical regions of Russia voted to join them," adding, "These are not their lands, but they are Russia's historical lands."

Putin reaffirmed that Russia is not preparing for a war with Europe, stating: "In the West, they talk about a threat from Russia and begin preparations for a war with it, which constitutes political schizophrenia," according to his expression.

Putin added that discussing future security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine also requires discussing the structure of European security.

Meanwhile, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that Putin informed US envoy Steve Witkoff during their meeting in St. Petersburg of Russia's readiness to resume trilateral negotiations on Ukraine within the first ten days of November.

Zelenskyy had stated on Wednesday that Ukraine supports a US proposal to hold trilateral talks with Russia and the United States at the negotiator level as soon as possible.

Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes
Russia and Ukraine exchanged strikes on the night of Wednesday-Thursday, coinciding with the departure of US envoy Steve Witkoff from Moscow, amid the latest US mediation efforts to reach a settlement to end the Ukraine war.

A Reuters witness reported that missiles fell on Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, while Ukraine launched hundreds of drones toward Moscow overnight.

Kyiv authorities stated that Russian strikes injured 15 people and damaged infrastructure on a bridge over the Dnieper River, also restricting traffic at the site; these strikes followed another attack on the city on Wednesday evening that injured six people.

In the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said via Telegram that a Russian strike killed one woman and injured four others.