Vladimir Putin has stated his desire for a "lasting and stable peace" in Ukraine but offered no signs of compromise, following a week in which Russian strikes resulted in further casualties and damage across the country.
"We seek a durable peace based on solid principles that benefit both Russia and Ukraine while ensuring their security," Putin told reporters on Friday, just days before a new deadline set by Donald Trump for hostilities to stop.
Trump has warned that if no resolution is reached by next Friday, August 8, he will enact a set of economic measures against Russia.
Before his presidency, Trump claimed he could end the conflict within a day, but his repeated outreach to Putin has seen little progress. Recently, his stance has shifted, with stronger criticism of Moscow and increased openness to backing Ukraine. On Thursday, he condemned Russia’s attacks on civilian areas as "appalling."
The number of fatalities from early Thursday’s strikes on Kyiv climbed to 31 on Friday after rescue workers recovered more bodies from a collapsed apartment building. Among the dead were five children, including a toddler, while 159 people were injured—one of the deadliest assaults on the capital since the war began over three years ago.
Though Putin has frequently expressed interest in negotiations, his conditions have been rejected by Kyiv. Last week, a third round of talks in Istanbul lasted less than an hour and yielded no agreements beyond prisoner swaps.
Speaking alongside Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in northern Russia, Putin stated he hoped discussions would resume "without cameras in a calm environment."
Ukraine, however, has accused Russia of insincerity, pointing to its delegation being led by Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture official known for nationalist historical writings. "This delegation lacks authority to negotiate—only to make demands and spread hostility," said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, in Kyiv.
Zelensky has repeatedly proposed direct talks with Putin, mediated by either Trump or Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On Friday, he responded to Putin’s peace claims by renewing his offer for a leader-level meeting.
"If this signals genuine intent for a dignified end to the war and a lasting peace—rather than just stalling for time—Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to engage in talks at the highest level anytime," Zelensky said.
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