Russia is ready to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (October 22) in an interview with Russian state channel reporter Pavel Zarubin.

Putin added that any future talks should focus on security arrangements following a final peace agreement instead of a temporary ceasefire, and broader European security issues should also be discussed.

"The purpose of these negotiations will be to discuss ensuring the security of Ukraine and Russia after peace agreements have been reached in their final form, rather than as a result of a suspension of hostilities for some brief period of time. We are ready to resume these contacts to achieve this goal," Putin said.

Answering a journalist's question, he noted that it was "inappropriate" for Ukrainian leaders to discuss possible territorial losses as a result of the war, arguing that, in his view, the territories in eastern Ukraine claimed by Moscow were "historically Russian land". He also reiterated that Russia has no intention of fighting Europe, adding that European nations do not want that war either.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 22, 2026) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BEING INTERVIEWED BY KREMLIN POOL JOURNALIST PAVEL ZARUBIN

2. PUTIN LISTENING TO JOURNALIST’S QUESTION

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"(PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) We have agreed that we are ready to resume our trilateral contacts. The purpose of these negotiations will be to discuss the issue of ensuring the security of Ukraine and Russia (PUTIN IN SHOT) after reaching peace agreements, and specifically in their final form, rather than as a result of a suspension of hostilities for some brief period of time. We are ready to resume these contacts to achieve this goal."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"(PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) The representative of the US Administration pointed out that if we are going to discuss issues related to ensuring security in the future for both Ukraine and Russia, then, naturally, it will also be necessary to talk about the architecture of European security (PUTIN IN SHOT). In general, I agree with that as well. We shall see how the situation develops over the coming days."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING (ASKED ABOUT ZELENSKIY’S REMARKS ON POTENTIAL TERRITORIAL LOSSES):

"Firstly, my attitude towards this matter is that this is not their territory. This is the territory of historical Russia. Moreover, the people living in these territories voted, (PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) first, for state independence. And as a second step - and I want to emphasise this - they voted for reunification with the Russian Federation. (PUTIN IN SHOT) So, it seems to me inappropriate to speak of some kind of territorial losses. This is a matter of debate, and one could argue about it endlessly."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

“As is well known, this became the reason or pretext for some of our detractors abroad, as we see today, (PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) primarily in European countries, to launch an anti-Russian campaign across all fronts. (PUTIN IN SHOT) And now also to constantly talk about a threat from Russia and about the start of preparations for a war with Russia, which, in my view, is a kind of political schizophrenia. (PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) But I hope this, too, will pass”

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

“(PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) It has become obvious to everyone that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield, that inflicting a strategic defeat on it is unrealistic. (PUTIN IN SHOT) And I think that those people who have sought the strategic defeat of Russia throughout the centuries – and today such people, unfortunately, still exist – are realising the realities of modern life and will understand that it is better (PUTIN AND JOURNALIST IN SHOT) to live in harmony with Russia. This is in the interests of their peoples. Because (PUTIN IN SHOT) if you look at the political processes taking place in Europe itself, it becomes obvious that the peoples of Europe do not want to fight Russia. I want us to be heard: we do not want this either, we are not preparing for any kind of war with Europe."

12. PUTIN TALKING TO JOURNALIST