بوتين: مستعدون لجولة مفاوضات جديدة مع أوكرانيا

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that his country is ready for a new third round of negotiations with Ukraine, although no agreement has been reached on the location and timing.

The Russian news agency "TASS" reported Putin as saying during a press conference on the sidelines of a regional summit in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, today (Friday): "The discussion of the memorandums of understanding between the two countries will be the subject of negotiations with Kyiv." He expressed his gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his role in reaching agreements between the two sides in Istanbul that have been implemented.

Putin announced his openness to communications and meetings, including with U.S. President Donald Trump, affirming that he has great respect for him and describing his efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis as "sincere."

Regarding negotiations with Kyiv, he revealed that the two memorandums, which are supposed to include the views of both Russia and Ukraine on ways to resolve the conflict, contain "completely contradictory" proposals.

Putin said: "It is not surprising; they are completely contradictory memorandums. However, negotiations are being conducted specifically with the aim of finding common ground."

He added that Russia and Ukraine will maintain communication after the completion of prisoner exchanges and the return of soldiers' bodies. Putin expressed his readiness to deliver 3,000 more bodies of Ukrainian soldiers in addition to the 6,000 that have already been handed over.

Regarding the relationship between the East and the West, Putin warned that increased military spending will not enhance the West's security but will lower the standard of living. The Russian president noted that Russia plans to reduce spending on armaments, and the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Economic Development are currently working in this direction.

He said: "We plan to reduce defense spending. We are planning for next year and the next three years," pointing out that "a final agreement has not yet been reached between the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Economic Development, but in general, everyone is thinking in this direction."

He added that at the same time, Europe is thinking about how to increase expenditures, asking: "Who is preparing for aggressive actions? Us or them?"