The Russian leader said the US had pressing domestic issues to worry about. “Wouldn’t it be better to negotiate with Russia? Make an agreement. Already understanding the situation that is developing today, realising that Russia will fight for its interests to the end,” Putin said.
Washington, which has sent Ukraine more than US$110 billion in aid since Russia invaded in February 2022, has made clear it has no interest in talking on Putin’s terms.
On the prospect of peace, the Russian president stated that if the West truly desires an end to the fighting, it must cease supplying arms. "It would be over in a few weeks. That's it," Putin added.
Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a historic victory in the snap lower house election held on 8 February, securing more than a two-thirds majority of seats on its own.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that he hopes to work with U.S. President Donald Trump in the new year to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations steadily forward through wind and storms, and accomplish more big things and good things.
China's top diplomat Wang Yi met with Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, in Beijing on Sunday.