At the Valdai Discussion Club, President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's drone strikes during the State Duma vote have made restarting peace talks more difficult and claimed Moscow was ready to resume negotiations on September 21. He asserted that more than 1,600 drones struck Moscow and other regions, framed the attacks as a miscalculation by Kyiv, and said Russia would only negotiate on terms acceptable to the Russian Federation and its people. Kyiv and Western allies remain skeptical of Moscow's stated willingness to negotiate.
Putin: Drone Attacks Have Complicated Peace Talks — Russia 'Prepared' but Sets Conditions
Russian President Vladimir Putin casts his ballot online in the State Duma (parliamentary) election. (is associated with: «Putin says he is 'prepared' for peace talks, but cites conditions») -/Kremlin/dpa
Russian President Vladimir Putin told an international audience at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow that Ukraine's drone strikes during the State Duma vote have made it harder to resume peace negotiations.
Putin said Moscow had been ready to restart talks on September 21, the day after the Duma elections, but that recent strikes — which he claimed involved more than 1,600 drones targeting Moscow and other regions — complicated those plans. He described the attacks as an effort to undermine Russian society and said Kyiv miscalculated by banking on their operational impact.
"The enemy had expected our society to fall apart, but anyone can be wrong," Putin said, using the comment to underscore Russia's resilience.
He added that Russia remained willing to enter negotiations and to conclude them quickly, but only on conditions "acceptable to the Russian Federation and to the Russian people." Kremlin remarks were presented as the president's assertions.
However, Kyiv, Western partners and many independent observers express deep skepticism about Moscow's sincerity and readiness to negotiate in good faith. The full-scale conflict that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 continues to shape diplomatic dynamics and public perceptions on both sides.
Implications
Putin's statements signal a conditional openness to diplomacy, but they also make clear that any progress will depend on political concessions Moscow demands. Given ongoing hostilities and mutual distrust, analysts say a rapid breakthrough remains unlikely.
Help us improve.
