Putin Rejects Compromise on Ukraine and Criticises European Union Over Frozen Assets
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he sees no basis for compromise on his conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, while accusing the European Union of attempting to seize Russian assets unfairly.
Speaking at his annual end of year press conference in Moscow, Putin said Russia remained open to ending the conflict through dialogue, but only on terms he previously outlined. He added that he did not believe Ukraine was ready to agree to a peace deal, though he noted there were limited signs of willingness to engage in talks.
Putin repeated demands made in an earlier policy speech, including that Ukraine abandon plans to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and withdraw from four regions claimed by Russia. Ukrainian authorities have consistently rejected these conditions and insist they will not surrender territory.
The remarks came shortly after European Union leaders decided not to proceed with a plan to use frozen Russian central bank assets as collateral for loans to Ukraine. Instead, the bloc opted to raise funds directly, while reserving the right to use Russian assets in the future if Moscow fails to pay reparations.
Putin said the change reflected fears of serious consequences for the euro zone. He argued that using the assets would undermine confidence in Europe as a safe place to hold reserves and damage trust in its financial system.
The conflict in Ukraine remains at a sensitive stage, with Donald Trump pushing for a peace agreement that Ukraine and its European allies fear could favour Moscow. Russia said it is waiting to hear how peace proposals discussed by the United States, Ukraine and European partners have been revised.
During the press conference, Putin said Russian forces were advancing along the front lines and that Ukrainian troops were retreating. Ukrainian officials dispute this assessment, saying Russian gains have been limited and achieved at high cost, while Ukrainian forces continue to resist in several areas.
The event, which allows journalists and members of the public to submit questions, also addressed domestic issues including the economy. Putin said slower economic growth was the result of deliberate central bank policies aimed at reducing inflation. As the conference continued, the central bank announced a reduction in its key interest rate, easing pressure from businesses and financial institutions
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