Putin Says There's A Chance Of Ukraine Peace Deal, Wants To Restore Full US Relations

Authored by Guy Birchall via The Epoch Times,

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 3 that there was "a chance" of achieving peace with Ukraine and expressed a desire to rekindle relations with the United States.

Putin was speaking at a session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok when he made the comments.

On the subject of Ukraine, the Russian president said Moscow was "grateful to everyone who is trying to contribute to resolving this issue," and he said that in his opinion there is "a chance" of peace, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

He said that for hostilities to end between Moscow and Kyiv, "Russia and Ukraine must first reach an agreement" between themselves, and he acknowledged that "all other countries are ready to support and assist" in achieving that.

The Russian leader also revealed that contact between Moscow and Kyiv was ongoing via the two nations' intelligence services, but he said that it was difficult for him to say "to what extent these contacts are leading to a peace agreement."

Regarding Russo - American relations, Putin confirmed that Moscow was still in contact with Washington and said he hoped that such contact would continue.

Alluding to the recent trip by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow for meetings on Aug. 25, the Russian president said that everyone was aware of the cooperation between American and Russian intelligence agencies and administration officials appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

He said that the collaboration was "working" and expressed a hope that it will "ultimately lead to a positive outcome."

He further stated, "[Moscow is] in favor of restoring relations with the United States in full, but this does not depend solely on us; it depends on the American side."

However, he stressed that he believed that Trump is "determined to engage in such positive, constructive work."

On Aug. 26, Trump confirmed Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow for meetings on Aug. 25.

The president, however, dismissed all rumors about the purpose of Ratcliffe's trip, denying that he was sent to warn the Kremlin against testing NATO's resolve, striking England, or disregarding Iranian sanctions.

"John Ratcliffe is a fantastic guy. He's the head of the CIA, and he is not in there for any of the things that you said. Now, something may come out, you know, out of it. We're working very hard to get that war ended, and frankly, they both want to see it ended at this point," Trump said.

On the topic of meeting with Putin, Trump said on Sept. 2 that such an occasion would occur only after peace was achieved between Moscow and Kyiv.

"We'd do it if I wanted it, but I want to do it when we're ready to do a peace deal," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

He said that the United States wanted to have good relations with both warring parties, saying it would be "great for business."

"They ought to stop that stupid war," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country wanted peace but wouldn't surrender, in an Aug. 24 speech in Kyiv marking Ukraine's Independence Day.

On Sept. 1, Zelenskyy said Ukraine supports "every step toward peace," in a post on X.

"The war needs to end, and leaders are right to tell Putin this. So, for the sake of diplomacy and negotiations, whenever our partners approach us about this, we will ensure that Russian skies are cleared of drones for specified periods of time and along specified routes," he said.

"Safety will return to Russia's skies when there is real movement toward peace. For now, the skies over Russia are for drones - not for civilian aviation."