rki.news Sources Xinhua
BISHKEK, Sept. 2— Russian President Vladimir Putin said negotiations on Ukraine have stalled, while rejecting reports that Russia plans a new mobilization following the State Duma election.
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday night after a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Putin said Russia supports substantive negotiations and welcomes efforts to help end the conflict.
Putin said Moscow seeks a lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe and remains ready to negotiate with anyone willing. He added that Russia respects countries seeking peace.
On battlefield developments, Putin said drones challenge Russian forces. He said Russian troops are accelerating their offensive and advancing according to plan in Donetsk, where they took control of 15 settlements in August. Putin expressed confidence but declined to give a timeline for ending the conflict, saying war is difficult to predict.
Putin also said military facilities in Ukraine, including those linked to the United Kingdom, are legitimate targets for Russian strikes.
He dismissed reports of a new civilian mobilization after the State Duma election as “nonsense” and an “information warfare” campaign against Russia.