Russia

President Putin stated that Russia is ready for negotiations with Ukraine, but “on a basis of a current day reality”. He noted that a new border should be there where “people living on the new territories of Russia desire”. He also reiterated that Russia is interested not in a ceasefire for “half an hour”, but in creating supportive conditions for restoring relations between the two nations, which remain “brotherly” despite all the difficulties resulting from tragic events in bilateral relations.