Putin Says There Will Be No Peace while Ukraine is Offensive

(AmericanProsperity.com) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was impossible to reach any peace deal with Ukraine if this country continues its counteroffensive operations. During a press conference after a meeting with African leaders in St. Petersburg, Putin said he’s open to the idea of peace negotiations with Kyiv. However, he said he would only accept a cease-fire once the Ukrainian military stopped being “on the offensive.”

The Russian leader also told reporters that Chinese and African peace initiatives could eventually become the basis to “end the war in Ukraine.” Nevertheless, he said that even when it would be “ideal” to reach this scenario as soon as possible, these initiatives were “impossible to implement” right now.

When asked about the counteroffensive operations, Putin told reporters that the Russian armed forces cannot cease fire at this moment as they are “under attack.” He also said this situation might have continued for “some time” as he said the Ukrainian military is implementing a “large-scale offensive operation.” Referring to the peace initiatives, the Russian president said that the Kremlin has never “rejected them.” However, they told reporters that Moscow and Kyiv need to reach an agreement so the process could start.

African politicians met with the Russian leader on July 28, to strengthen relations between Moscow and this continent. Some of them directly asked Putin and the Kremlin to stop the war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022 after Russia decided to invade this country.

At the summit, Chad’s Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat told Putin that the war “must end,” adding this could only happen based on reason and “justice.” Meanwhile, Congolese President Denis Nguesso said that a peace plan from Africa deserves “the closest attention” from world leaders.

Also, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he hoped that negotiations and engagements between Russia and Ukraine could “end the conflict.” Finally, Senegal’s President Macky Sall said that both nations needed a “de-escalation” to “create calm.”