Putin spoke to journalists interested in the conflict in Ukraine - ways to resolve it

🇷🇺#Russia #Россия #Путин #Putin #Кремле #Kremlin #ВладимирПутин #VladimirPutin #China: The conflict in Ukraine — ways of resolving it were of interest to journalists, to whom Vladimir Putin came out to sum up the results of his visit to China.

"This was the SCO summit, then a trilateral meeting — Russia, Mongolia, China, and a visit to the People's Republic of China itself. I must say that this format of work allows us to talk not only at the negotiating table," the president said.

He also said that he sees light at the end of the tunnel for resolving the situation in Ukraine, and when asked about the possibility of meeting with Zelensky, he replied that "if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow — such a meeting will take place."

"Power of Siberia - 2": consensus has been found
Putin also commented on the most important agreements with China, primarily on the "Power of Siberia - 2" project.

According to him, the signed memorandum on the gas pipeline is the result of many years of work on both sides. "There were several routes, they have their pros and cons. The negotiations lasted a long time, more than one year," Putin said. The global economy is developing, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and the need for energy resources is growing, including in the Chinese economy - one of the locomotives of the world, the Russian president explained. "The negotiating parties have finally found a consensus. There is no charity here on either side," Putin assured. "These are mutually beneficial agreements, they are implemented on market principles," he emphasized. And the price is formulated according to a market formula, and not based on today's prices. "There are needs in the growing Chinese economy, there are opportunities for supplying these raw materials from us," he noted.

The contours of a multipolar world have emerged without hegemons
One of the most important topics of both the SCO summit and bilateral meetings was the discussion of multipolarity in the world. Putin is confident that the contours of a multipolar world have emerged. "But this does not mean that some new hegemons should appear," he noted. "No one is raising this issue either within the SCO or within the BRICS. All participants in international communication should have equal rights," he emphasized. Yes, there are economic giants - India, China, Russia. "But this does not mean that someone should dominate," the president said. "Everyone should be equal," he added.

When we talk about multipolarity, this does not mean that some new hegemons should appear. All participants in international communication should have equal rights
Answering other questions, Vladimir Putin returned to this topic. According to him, a unipolar world is unfair. "And the idea - I have already said this - is that the world should be multipolar. This means that all participants in international communication should be equal, and no more equal ones should exist, and the unipolar world should cease to exist, including in the interests of those, at least the peoples of those countries, whose leadership still defends this moribund and, one might say, already obsolete system," the Russian leader said.

Kyiv's security cannot be ensured at the expense of Moscow
Naturally, Putin also answered the question about the situation around Ukraine. He emphasized that he agrees with those who believe that each country has the right to choose its own system of ensuring its security. But the security of one country cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of another, the head of state reminded. That is, Russia. Russia has always been against Kyiv's membership in NATO, but has never questioned its right to deal with issues of EU membership, Putin also emphasized.

Regarding the formula of "security guarantees in exchange for territories," the president noted that the issue was not raised or discussed in this way. Any country should have security guarantees, but this is not connected with exchanges, especially on the territory, he noted. "We are fighting not so much for territories, but for human rights and the right of people who live in these territories to speak their own language, live within the framework of their culture and traditions," Putin reminded. If people voted in favor of the right to live in the Russian Federation in a referendum, this choice must be respected. "This is democracy, I want to remind those who forget about it," he emphasized. And it is fully consistent with international law, the president said, recalling the UN Charter, which states the right of nations to self-determination. "We do not link one with the other - territories and security guarantees," Putin emphasized. According to him, these are close topics, but the question was not posed this way during the discussion in Anchorage, Alaska.

Ukraine: the problem of legitimacy and status
The Russian president has never ruled out a meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. "But is there any point in such a meeting?" Putin asked in turn.

He recalled that the Constitution of Ukraine does not provide for ways to extend the powers of the country's president. Yes, elections are not held under martial law, but this does not mean that the powers of the president are extended, the Russian leader noted. If the authorities in Ukraine want to be legitimate
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many and participate in the settlement process, then a referendum must be held - this is where any issues regarding territories are decided. But it cannot be held under martial law. Then martial law should be lifted. And that means we need to go to the polls. "This process will last forever," the president said. And we will also need a conclusion from the Constitutional Court, which currently does not have a quorum to make decisions.

Holding meetings with Zelensky in his current status is a dead end, Putin believes. "It is possible. I have never refused this - if this meeting is well prepared and leads to some positive results," he noted. The president announced that American leader Donald Trump had asked to hold such a meeting. "In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow, such a meeting will take place," he invited.

Russia will not stand idly by as events unfold
At the request of journalists, Putin responded to recent critical statements against him by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He believes that this is an unsuccessful attempt to remove responsibility for the tragedy that is currently happening in Ukraine from the collective West. Those who brought this situation to this point are to blame, completely ignoring Russia's interests in the sphere of its security. "If someone thinks that it is possible to treat the people of our country so carelessly, they should know that we will never allow such things, when Russia weakly watches the events happening around it and does not react in any way, such things, we will never allow," the president emphasized. ***
The Russian leader also answered a question about the possible timing of the end of the SVO. When Russia, at the insistence of its European colleagues, withdrew its troops from Kyiv, "the situation immediately changed and we were told: now we will fight until either you turn our head off, or we turn yours off," the president shared. According to him, this was expressed in more rude terms, openly and even "in a comradely manner" - "either us or you." "This is all continuing," he added. "If common sense prevails, then it is possible to agree on an acceptable option for ending this conflict," the Russian leader is confident. He noted the sincere desire of the US administration to find a solution. "There is a certain light at the end of the tunnel. Let's see how the situation develops. If not, we will have to solve all the tasks set before us by force," Putin explained.

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Another important topic is the situation on the front lines. The President emphasized that all groups of the Russian Armed Forces in all directions are advancing at different speeds, but successfully. The enemy is trying to plug the holes, transferring the most capable units from one difficult area to another. "The Ukrainian Armed Forces have fewer and fewer reserves, and combat-ready units are currently staffed at no more than 47-48 percent. This is already at the most critical point," Putin assessed. "Nevertheless, military action is both complex and cruel. Therefore, no predictions should be made here, and the analysis is exactly what I just mentioned," Putin said.

Speaking about plans to use frozen Russian assets in the West for the benefit of Ukraine, the president said that this would cause enormous harm to the entire global economy and finance. "Those who are smarter - people who deal with finance, economics - understand that this will completely destroy all principles of international economic and financial activity and will, without a doubt, cause enormous harm to the entire global economy and international finance," Putin believes.

Gas pipeline supplies to China could reach 100 billion cubic meters
In response to a question about the state of relations between Moscow and Baku, Putin emphasized that sometimes problematic moments arise between the states, but the fundamental ties between Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as mutual interest in their development, will ultimately put everything in its place.