President Vladimir Putin mentioned Friday that Russian and Ukrainian calls for for peace stay “completely contradictory,” as current talks did not convey the 2 sides nearer to a ceasefire.
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators exchanged written proposals at peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month, however except for agreeing on large-scale prisoner exchanges, the negotiations have yielded no tangible progress.
“As for the memorandums, as anticipated, nothing shocking occurred… these are two completely contradictory memorandums,” Putin mentioned throughout a press convention in Minsk, Belarus, referring to every aspect’s peace proposals.
“That’s why negotiations are being organized and carried out — to attempt to convey these positions nearer,” he added.
Putin has thus far rejected requires an instantaneous ceasefire and ramped up air assaults as Russian forces advance additional into Ukrainian territory, together with past the 4 areas Moscow claims to have annexed since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede extra land and abandon Western navy assist, circumstances Kyiv has referred to as unacceptable.
Regardless of the impasse, Putin mentioned either side would “proceed additional contact” after finishing prisoner swaps agreed to over the last direct talks on June 2.
A number of exchanges have already taken place, with either side liberating greater than 1,000 captured troopers. Putin mentioned Russia is ready to return the our bodies of an extra 3,000 useless Ukrainian troopers.
The Russian president additionally acknowledged the pressure the struggle has positioned on the financial system, with protection spending now accounting for six.3% of GDP, or 13.5 trillion rubles ($172 billion).
“It’s so much,” Putin mentioned. “We paid for it with inflation, however now we’re combating this inflation.”
He additionally criticized NATO members for pledging to spice up protection spending to five% of GDP, calling the transfer “aggressive.”
