Putin claims Russia is ready for new talks with Ukraine, calls occupied land historical Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness for renewed dialogue between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in an interview published on 22 October. He emphasized that the talks should focus on achieving lasting security for both nations following a comprehensive peace agreement, rather than merely a temporary truce.

The proposal came shortly after Putin hosted US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his willingness to freeze the conflict along the frontline. In May, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had identified Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson as the sole precondition for peace.

Putin clarified that Moscow and Washington had previously agreed Russia was prepared to resume trilateral discussions. He also mentioned a general agreement with a US stance that European security architecture should be part of the dialogue. On 21 October, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that talks were set to commence in mid-November in Abu Dhabi.

When asked about the territorial concessions required under potential peace terms, Putin stated that the occupied regions were not part of Ukraine but rather historical Russia. He argued that the residents of these territories had voted for independence and subsequently joined Russia, and deemed any discussion of territorial losses as inappropriate.

Putin drew a connection between Russia's willingness to negotiate and the perceived cultural affinity between Russians and Ukrainians, citing genetic studies to support his claim. However, the credibility of the referenced studies remained disputed.

Putin's stance on historical unity was further elaborated in a 12 July 2021 essay, which Ukraine's national memory institute contested. He reiterated his commitment to achieving the objectives of the Kremlin's "special military operation" in a similar statement on 17 December 2025.