Putin ready for 'serious' peace talks and says U.S.-Ukraine draft could be basis for a deal

Russia is ready for “serious” peace talks, Vladimir Putin said Thursday, adding that the draft of a plan discussed by the United States and Ukraine could form the basis of a future deal to end the conflict

Russia is ready for “serious” peace talks, Vladimir Putin said Thursday, adding that the draft of a plan discussed by the United States and Ukraine could form the basis of a future deal to end the conflict.

The Russian leader said he felt that Washington was taking his position into account, but that some things still needed to be discussed when a U.S. delegation visits Moscow early next week.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin was responding for the first time since Kyiv secured changes to the proposal, which was initially viewed as too favorable to the Kremlin.

President Donald Trump has touted “tremendous progress,” but both the White House and Ukraine have indicated key points still needed to be hashed out.

Trump had earmarked Thanksgiving as a date for more concrete announcements, and close observers of the Kremlin have raised doubts about its readiness to agree to a deal that would involve concessions. But Putin sounded positive about the course of talks, even as he maintained Russia would gladly keep fighting.