ALBAWABA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow could consider suspending long-range attacks inside Ukraine, but only if Kyiv proceeds with national elections — a condition that immediately reignited political debate around Ukraine’s wartime governance.
Speaking during his annual press conference in Moscow, Putin said Russia is willing to “examine security guarantees” and refrain from targeting deep into Ukrainian territory if Ukraine holds elections in which Ukrainian citizens residing in Russia are also allowed to vote.
His remarks come shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump accused President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government of lacking democratic legitimacy because elections were postponed under martial law. In response, Zelensky asked parliament to review potential legal changes that would allow elections during wartime.
Military Momentum and Diplomatic Pressure
Putin used the press conference to highlight what he described as continued Russian advances across the front line, saying Ukrainian forces were “retreating in every direction.” He asserted that capturing Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) would pave the way for Russia to seize other fortified cities.
Kyiv, under mounting military pressure, is currently discussing a U.S.-backed peace proposal that reportedly includes territorial concessions in exchange for ending the war. The plan stems from a 28-point framework negotiated between American and Ukrainian officials in Geneva and announced in November.
Putin insisted that the Ukrainian leadership remains unwilling to pursue a genuine settlement but said Moscow is prepared to end the conflict “through peaceful means” if the “root causes” — as defined by Russia — are addressed. He pointed to proposals the Kremlin made in June 2024 as a basis for negotiations.
Warning to the West
During the press conference, Putin also issued a sharp warning to Western governments, saying they would face “severe consequences” if they attempted to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine financially.
