At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held today in Tianjin, China, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech that reignited global attention on the Ukraine conflict and his relations with the United States.
Putin claimed that during his recent meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, the two leaders reached “understandings” aimed at moving closer to ending the war in Ukraine. However, he did not confirm whether he would accept Trump’s proposal to join peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to reports, Trump has given Putin until Monday to decide on participating in negotiations.
During his address, Putin repeated his long-held position that the conflict was not caused by Russia’s invasion but by what he called a Western-backed coup in Ukraine and NATO’s attempts to draw the country into its alliance. He strongly emphasized his opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership, framing it as a core reason behind the war.
The summit also featured meetings between Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting how the Ukraine war continues to be a central issue in international diplomacy.
Putin’s remarks come shortly after Russia carried out one of its largest aerial attacks on Kyiv, leaving at least 23 civilians dead. This escalation has fueled skepticism about his willingness to engage in meaningful peace talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, warning that if Putin fails to respond to Trump’s Monday deadline, it could be seen as yet another tactic to stall peace efforts. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has rejected the idea of creating a buffer zone with Russia, calling it an attempt to delay genuine diplomacy.
Earlier, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff suggested that Putin had tentatively agreed to consider security guarantees for Ukraine in a possible deal, though Moscow has not officially confirmed this. Trump, in a recent interview, said he was giving Putin only a few more weeks before the U.S. “takes action,” adding further pressure to the already tense situation.
In summary: At the SCO summit, Putin hinted at progress with Trump on peace talks but stopped short of committing to direct negotiations with Zelensky. With international pressure mounting and deadlines looming, the coming days may determine whether these talks move forward or if the war continues to escalate.
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