Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that US 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 told reporters in St Petersburg on Thursday that Russia had all the resources to achieve its military goals and its troops were advancing in Ukraine, but it was prepared to make a deal with Ukraine peacefully.
“We are absolutely ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means,” he added.
He also said that Russia must strengthen its air defences, a day after Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and naval base in Saint Petersburg, where a key economic forum is taking place.
“Russia has an air defence system. Yes, we must improve it. Yes, we must strengthen it. And we will do so,” the Russian leader said.
Putin added that Russia was considering expanding the use of its hypersonic Oreshnik missile against cities in Ukraine, saying the weapon had not yet been used in the “full sense of the word”.
Putin has repeatedly said that the missile, which travels 10 times the speed of sound, is capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
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