‘Based on the realities that have emerged’: Putin declares readiness for negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin once again stated readiness for negotiations, but with consideration of “realities on the ground”. This means Russia will demand recognition of the territories it has captured.

“Are we ready for negotiations? Yes, we are, but only ready for negotiations not based on some whims after the use of psychotropic substances, but based on the realities that have emerged, as they say, on the ground,” the Russian president said.

He also stated that Moscow will not engage in negotiations that Ukraine and the West would use as a “pause for rearmament” and will demand “security guarantees” for Russia.

“We must clearly and distinctly understand that this is not a pause that the adversary wants to take for rearmament, but it’s a serious conversation with security guarantees for the Russian Federation,” Putin said.

He also added that Russia knows the “carrots” that foreign governments are planning to show to convince Moscow that the moment for negotiations has come.

“We remember, don’t we, what happiness meant for some in Rus? Happiness at the household level was: ‘fed, drunk, and tobacco in the nose.’ It’s easier with such people. Fed, drunk – meaning they’ve eaten, they’ve drunk. Tobacco in the nose because they used snuff. Now it’s cocaine in the nose, right? But it doesn’t matter, it’s easier with such people. But with the smart ones, it’s more difficult, they are more dangerous because they influence the consciousness of society, including ours. They will throw out all sorts of their whims under the guise of ‘carrots’ for us,” Putin said.