Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday his openness to discussions with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding a potential peace agreement in Ukraine.
During his annual press conference on state television in Moscow, Putin told a reporter he was prepared for "negotiations and compromises" with the incoming chief executive to resolve the nearly three-year-long conflict.
"I don't know when I'm going to see him. He isn't saying anything about it. I haven't talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Any time," he added.
These statements come after significant territorial advancements by Russian forces this year in Ukraine's southern and eastern regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. It is estimated that these occupied areas comprise about 20 percent of the Eastern European country’s land.
In November, Reuters reported that Kremlin officials were willing to engage in ceasefire mediation, provided Russia was not required to relinquish its captured positions and Kiev halts its efforts to join NATO.
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