Part 9/13:
Russian President Vladimir Putin asserts a willingness to negotiate peace with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but questions the Ukrainian leader’s authority to negotiate under martial law. During an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin indicated that working groups could resume discussions "as early as next week," though a dedicated summit would be contingent on reaching agreed terms.
Putin’s conditions remain highly unilateral, demanding Kyiv renounce NATO membership, declare neutrality, cede five regions—including territories with unclear control—and reduce its military footprint. These demands amount to a capitulation that Ukraine has flatly refused, accusing Moscow of stalling negotiations deliberately.