President Putin Calls European Participation In Ukraine Peace Negotiations Necessary

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Gavril Grigorov/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said Russia had never rejected European participation in peace-of-war negotiations in Ukraine, underscoring Europeans who refuse any dialogue with Moscow.

President Putin said it was logical for Europe to take part in negotiations on the three-year conflict resolution.

"Aptipasi mereka dalam proses negosiasi diperlukan. Kami tidak pernah menolak itu, kami mengadakan diskusi terus-pengung dengan mereka," kata Presiden Putin, melansir Reuters 25 Februari.

"Sometimes, on the pretext of making Russia lose on the battlefield, they are the ones who refuse contact with us. If they want to come back, it's okay," he continued.

He further said US President Donald Trump approached the Russia-Ukraine conflict rationally and not emotionally.

Russia and the United States held the initial round of negotiations on Ukraine last week in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine and European ally Kyiv were not invited, sparking objections from both.

He said negative reactions to talks at Riyadh were "emotional and unreasonable".

"And why? Because to solve complicated and difficult problems, including the problems of Ukraine, Russia and the United States, we have to take the first step. And that first step must be aimed at increasing the level of trust between our two countries. And that's what we did in Riyadh," explained President Putin.

The Ukraine conflict has been discussed, he said, "but not in essence. We only agreed to solve it. And here we do not reject the participation of European countries."

President Putin also said he approved proposals Russia and the United States could discuss massive cuts, up to 50 percent, in military spending.

"We can reach an agreement with the United States. We are not against it," said President Putin.

"I think that idea is good. The United States reduces 50 percent of their budget and we reduce our budget by 50 percent. And China can join us later if they want," he said.

And President Putin dismissed the notion that Trump's sharp changes to Washington's policy on Ukraine, including criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kyiv's advice may not regain all lost territory, based on emotion.

President Trump, he said, acted logically and free from the limits of promises to Ukraine made by European leaders.

"Unlike them, the new president of the United States is free from shackles that doesn't allow you to move forward," he praised.

"He moves in a straightforward and without certain boundaries. He is in a unique position. He doesn't just say what he thinks, he says what he wants. This is the privilege of a superpower leader," he concluded.