Putin says Russia welcomes Europe in Ukraine peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia is not opposed to Europe’s involvement in U.S.-Russia peace talks on Ukraine but noted that Brussels had long refused dialogue with Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday that Europe is welcome to join Russia-U.S. peace negotiations on Ukraine, despite previously distancing itself from talks. Speaking on Russian state television, Putin suggested that European leaders had refused dialogue in the past but are now reconsidering.

“Their participation in the negotiating process is needed. We never rejected that,” Putin said. “At times, on the pretext of inflicting on Russia a battlefield defeat, they were the ones who refused contact with us.”

His remarks come after Russia and the United States held a round of talks last week in Saudi Arabia, without Ukraine or its European allies, triggering objections from Kyiv. Putin defended the discussions, saying they aimed to build trust between Washington and Moscow.

He also praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, describing him as acting "rationally" and free from constraints imposed by European commitments to Kyiv. “Unlike them, the new president of the United States has his hands free,” Putin said.

In a separate statement, Putin endorsed the idea of deep cuts in military spending, proposing a 50% reduction for both Russia and the U.S., with the possibility of China joining later.

The shift in diplomatic tone raises questions about Europe’s potential role in future negotiations and the broader direction of U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s leadership.

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