President Vladimir Putin has announced Russia’s readiness to resume negotiations with Ukraine, potentially after June 22. This statement was made during a meeting with heads of international news agencies at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Putin emphasized Russia’s desire to end the conflict in Ukraine swiftly and peacefully. He stated that Russia is open to negotiating with Ukraine, regardless of who represents Kyiv, “even if it is Zelensky.”

Putin indicated his willingness to meet with Zelensky during the final stage of negotiations to finalize an agreement. However, he raised concerns about the legitimacy of Ukraine’s political system, suggesting that if the Ukrainian President is considered illegitimate, it would impact the validity of any signed documents.

The Russian President also addressed humanitarian issues, mentioning that Russia has transferred over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian servicemen and is prepared to hand over more. In return, they received 57 bodies.

Putin warned that the situation for Kyiv will worsen.