Putin Says Ready for Kyiv Talks, Rejects Zelenskyy’s Territorial Loss Claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin said territories lost by Ukraine in the war are "historically Russian lands" and dismissed Kyiv's claims of territorial losses as inappropriate, days after meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff. Putin criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's readiness to accept losing some land for peace, asserting the areas are not Ukrainian territory. He claimed residents voted for independence and then reunification with Russia, calling talk of losses inappropriate. Putin said Russia remains ready for negotiations and agreed with the US to resume trilateral contacts on post-war security for Ukraine and Russia, including broader European security architecture. He reiterated that Russians and Ukrainians are "one people" and that Russia will achieve its military objectives.