UPDATED: Putin is open to negotiations about Ukraine – Yermak responds to the statements.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has commented on the possibility of negotiations regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.
This information is reported by Russian propaganda media.

At the same time, according to Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to ban dialogue with the Russian Federation "renders any potential negotiations illegitimate."

"It is unlikely that serious negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine can take place under Zelensky's 'prohibitive decree'," Putin stated.

Meanwhile, the Russian dictator is convinced that "Kyiv's sponsors will force Zelensky to reverse his decision regarding the ban on negotiations with the Russian Federation."

Additionally, Putin commented on the contacts between the Russian Federation and the United States.

"The Russian Federation has never refused to engage with the United States; it was Washington that interrupted these contacts," he noted.

Putin described his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump as "trusting and pragmatic."

According to him, if Trump had not had his victory "stolen" in the last elections, the current crisis in Ukraine might not have occurred.

Updated at 17:11:

Meanwhile, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak reacted to Putin's statements.

"Putin is trying to promote the idea of negotiations with the U.S. But he has a condition: he wants to negotiate the fate of Europe – without Europe. And he seeks to discuss Ukraine – without Ukraine. This will not happen," he wrote.

According to him, Putin needs to "return to reality" himself, or, as Yermak stated, "he will be brought back."

He emphasized that such a scheme does not work in the modern world.

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that Putin expressed concern over the state of the Russian economy. Those around the Kremlin dictator claim that he realizes how seriously the war is affecting the Russian economy.