Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that he believes there is a chance to resolve the conflict with Ukraine. According to the Tass news agency, Putin declared: "We are grateful to everyone who is trying to contribute to the resolution of this issue. Is there a chance? In my opinion, yes, there is."
The Russian head of state emphasized that the issue must be resolved primarily by the countries involved in the conflict: Russia and Ukraine. He reiterated that it is not for other nations to decide on the future of negotiations between the two countries.
Putin also revealed that contacts between Russia and Ukraine are still ongoing, occurring mainly through the intelligence services of both countries. According to him, it is difficult to assess to what extent these contacts are leading toward a peace agreement, given recent statements from senior Ukrainian officials.
