Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that there will be no concessions on Russia’s terms for ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. He accused the European Union of attempting “daylight robbery” by seizing Russian assets.

According to Thai News Agency, during his annual press conference and the “Direct Line” program, President Putin emphasized that Russia’s conditions, as declared in June 2024, remain unchanged. These conditions require Ukraine to abandon its ambitions to join NATO and withdraw its troops from four regions claimed by Russia. However, Ukraine maintains that it will not cede any territory not already under Russian control after nearly four years of conflict.

Moreover, Putin questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired last year. He noted that under the Ukrainian constitution, elections cannot occur under martial law. Putin suggested that Russia might temporarily halt its offensive to allow elections, proposing that Ukrainians living in Russia should also be allowed to vote.

Putin also addressed efforts from the United States, expressing that he found President Donald Trump sincere in his efforts to resolve the conflict. He emphasized that the responsibility for advancing the peace process lies with the West, particularly Ukraine’s European supporters. Despite this, the Kyiv government remains skeptical of Putin’s intentions, suspecting that peace proposals may disproportionately favor Russia.

President Trump continues to advocate for a peace proposal, raising concerns among Ukraine and its European allies about potential concessions to Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine has consistently advocated for a ceasefire, doubting the sincerity of Putin, who initiated the conflict in February 2022.