ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 4 – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Russia to make some compromises for a Ukraine peace deal and Russia was ready to do so provided Ukraine did the same.
Putin spoke to senior editors of news agencies including Reuters at a meeting in the Russian city of St Petersburg.
Following are his quotes as translated by Reuters.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT UKRAINE, CONTROL OF DONBAS AND PEACE:
“One does not exclude the other. Controlling the entire Donbas region and making a deal do not contradict each other. Why do you assume that this is in contradiction?”
“Russian troops are advancing along the entire front.” He said that Russia had taken control of more than 85% of the Donetsk region and had control of 80% of the Zaporizhzhia region.
“We are certainly ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine by peaceful means. And specifically on the basis that we discussed at the meeting with President (Donald) Trump in Anchorage. At that time questions were put before Russia so that we could make certain compromises. And Russia agrees to the compromises that we discussed in Anchorage. The Ukrainian side must also agree to these compromises. And the conflict will quickly come to its natural conclusion.” REUTERS
