Putin says Russia ready to negotiate with Ukraine on basis of 2022 Istanbul agreements

ISTANBUL, Türkiye — MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is open to peace talks with Kyiv based on the agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 and on the current situation on the ground. He stressed that any negotiations must be built around military developments in the field. Speaking in comments carried by Russian state media, Putin said the Russian army continues to advance on the front lines on a daily basis and that threats being created by the Kyiv leadership must be contained. He added that attacks on civilian targets will not affect developments along the front and that Russia will continue to act in different directions, relying on its economic stability and the performance of its armed forces. Putin also said that strikes on children would strengthen the position of Russian forces on the battlefield. He labeled the Kyiv government a "new Nazi regime" and reiterated that Moscow wants to shape the conditions of any peace process within the framework of the Istanbul agreements. No further details on potential talks were immediately available.