MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during his annual end-of-year press conference that, while Ukraine does not yet appear ready for peace talks, there are signals from the Kyiv regime indicating a willingness to engage in dialogue. Putin reiterated that Russia remains open to ending the conflict peacefully, based on principles previously outlined at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by addressing the root causes of the crisis.
Putin also claimed that after Russian forces drove Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region, the strategic initiative passed entirely to the Russian armed forces. He said Russian troops are advancing along the entire line of contact, with Ukrainian forces retreating in all directions, though the pace varies in different areas.