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| Putin Expresses Hope for Peace in Ukraine, Backing China-Brazil Initiative |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow is working towards establishing the conditions necessary for a peace agreement in Ukraine, as the conflict with its neighbor continues into its third year.
Despite ongoing hostilities, the possibility of a resolution
remains elusive. Putin expressed support for a "balanced" peace
proposal presented by China and Brazil, which was first introduced in May. The
plan calls for a resumption of negotiations without demanding an immediate
withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has
dismissed this approach, maintaining that peace talks can only begin if Russian
forces fully withdraw from Ukraine.
In related news, Putin confirmed that he will not attend the
G20 summit in Brazil this November. The 72-year-old leader has been under an
international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for
over a year, related to allegations of involvement in the deportation of
thousands of Ukrainian children.
Although Putin described his relationship with Brazilian
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as "wonderful and friendly," He
explained his decision to skip the summit, stating, "There’s no reason for
me to go there just to disrupt the usual proceedings of the forum.