Peace deal with Ukraine still possible: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said a peace agreement with Ukraine remains possible, while warning that recent Ukrainian attacks have made it more difficult to resume negotiations.

Putin made the remarks at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East on Thursday (September 3).

“Is there a possibility for peace? In my view, yes, of course there is,” Putin said, adding that several countries, including the United States and China, were ready to help facilitate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.

He said, however, that the final settlement would have to be reached by Russia and Ukraine themselves.

Putin accused Ukraine of attacking commercial vessels and threatening civilian aircraft, describing the alleged actions as “state terrorism” and saying they were complicating efforts to restart peace talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has warned that the presence of Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace could make air travel in affected areas dangerous.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine’s military operations would target only Russian military facilities and that civilian aircraft would not be threatened.