Putin Open To Cease-Fire In Ukraine But Not Ready To 'Retreat 1 Metre': Report

In a report published by the New York Times, the publication said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was open to stop the fighting in Ukraine, as per Russian officials.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to be open to a ceasefire in Ukraine freezing the fighting along the current lines, reported New York Times on Saturday quoting two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin as saying. 

“They say, ‘We are ready to have negotiations on a cease-fire,’” said one senior international official who met with top Russian officials this fall. “They want to stay where they are on the battlefield.”

While Putin is "obsessed" with his mission to retake “original Russian lands", he is also keen for most Russians to go on with normal life, the report stated, adding: "While readying Russia for years of war, he is quietly trying to make it clear that he is ready to end it." 

“He really is willing to stop at the current positions,” NYT reported one of the former senior Russian officials as saying. 

The former official added, “He’s not willing to retreat one metre.”

According to the publication, the Russian President had sought a ceasefire once before, a year ago.

The officials listed out several reasons that would be creating an opportunity for a deal including: " a battlefield that seems stuck in a stalemate, the fallout over Ukraine’s disappointing offensive, its flagging support in the West, and, since October, the distraction of the war in Gaza." 

The claims over agreement of a ceasefire were, however, rejected by Putin's spokesperson, Dmitri S. Peskov. 

Responding to the questions by the publication, Peskov said that “сonceptually, these theses you presented, they are incorrect.” 

On being asked about whether Russia was ready for a cease-fire at the current battle lines, he pointed to the president’s recent comments in which the Russian President said this month that Moscow's war goals had not changed.

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“Putin is, indeed, ready for talks, and he has said so,” Mr. Peskov said. “Russia continues to be ready, but exclusively for the achievement of its own goals.”

In an address to his generals on Tuesday, Putin said that Russia’s war goals have not changed and that Ukraine was so beleaguered that Russia’s invading troops were doing “what we want.”

“We won’t give up what’s ours,” he pledged, adding dismissively, “If they want to negotiate, let them negotiate.”