❓ Kommersant newspaper.

Mr. President, you are working towards achieving a peace treaty for Armenia and Azerbaijan, but I would like to ask, what about your own country?

You have repeatedly said that Russia is ready for talks with Ukraine, but Vladimir Zelensky, for one, has issued an executive order prohibiting him to talk with you. Besides, there are no points of intersection in view, as I see it, which would make it possible to come to terms.

What specifically, from your point of view, could Russia offer Ukraine at these talks, which would form the basis for an agreement?

💬 Vladimir Putin: To be able to put forth any proposals, it is necessary that these talks take place. Besides, it is not always expedient in terms of one’s national aims to put one’s negotiating position on the table in advance. Sometimes, this is the last thing you do. A better option is to put forward what diplomats call initial demands and then gradually advance towards a common denominator that would suit both sides.

But in order to reach agreements, you should sit down at the negotiating table and talk. We came to terms with them in Istanbul, but they later threw everything into the rubbish bin. And now, as you have rightly said, they have forbidden themselves from talking with us about anything. How can we now discuss possible agreements if the other party is not even willing to talk to us?

We will wait; perhaps some necessary conditions will develop eventually. Our goodwill is well known, it is not subject to any change or doubt.

❓ After the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, you said that any repeated attacks would invite Russia’s commensurate response. Are today’s concentrated strikes aimed at Ukrainian territory a response to the recent events in Sevastopol?

💬 Vladimir Putin: Yes, in part this is the case. But this is not the limit of what we could do.

❓ Good afternoon. Alexander Yunashev, Life.

Mr President, with reference to possible or impossible peace talks with Zelensky. You were asked several times whether or not you would go to the G20 summit, where Zelensky is likely to be present as well. You said several times that the decision was not yet taken. Has it perhaps been taken already?

And what about Thailand? Will you attend the APEC summit?

💬 Vladimir Putin: No, these decisions are still pending.

But since we are departing further and further from the topic of today’s talks and the subject of today’s talks, I think it is time we call it a day.

Thank you very much!

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