Putin Ready For Negotiations After Biden Offers Peace Talks: 'Peaceful, Diplomatic Means'

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for peace talks and negotiations on Ukraine after U.S. President Joe Biden offered to “sit down” to discuss a way to end the war.

What Happened: Putin is open to talks on a possible settlement in Ukraine, but Washington's refusal to recognize the recently annexed Ukrainian territories as Russia's is hindering any potential compromise, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media, reported Reuters. 

See Also: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Invites Elon Musk To See Damage Done By Putin: ‘After That, You Will Tell Us How To End This War’

“The president of the Russian Federation has always been, is and remains open to negotiations in order to ensure our interests. The most preferable way to achieve our interests is through peaceful, diplomatic means,” Peskov said. 

The comments came in response to Biden's offer to sit down with his Russian counterpart to end the war in Ukraine that has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Biden said Putin hasn't expressed any interest in Ukraine peace talks and if the Russian leader decides to, "I’ll be happy to sit down with Putin to see what he wants."

In a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Biden said they were committed to holding Moscow to account "for widely documented atrocities and war crimes, committed both by its regular armed forces and by its proxies" in Kyiv.

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