President Vladimir Putin has stated Russia is ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine, potentially after June 22nd, aiming to end the conflict peacefully as soon as possible. This announcement came during a meeting with heads of international news agencies at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Putin indicated a willingness to negotiate with any representative, including President Zelensky, clarifying that a meeting with Zelensky would be possible at the final stage of negotiations to finalize any agreements. He raised concerns about the legitimacy of Ukraine’s political system, suggesting it could be compromised if the head of state is deemed illegitimate.

Despite these concerns, Russia maintains its readiness to continue negotiations. Putin also mentioned the exchange of deceased military personnel, stating that Russia had returned over 6,000 bodies and received 57 in return, expressing readiness to hand over more than 3,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. He reiterated Russia’s desire for a swift resolution to the conflict, preferably through peaceful means.