Putin, who gave an interview to journalist Pavel Zarubin of the Rossiya 1 channel, added that Zelensky “got into a dead end with a decree prohibiting negotiations with Russia.”

Among other things, the Russian President emphasized that Zelensky “is avoiding negotiations” on peace, because if they begin, he will be forced to lift martial law, and as soon as this happens, elections must be organized immediately.

“The current head of the Kyiv regime is becoming a toxic figure for the Ukrainian armed forces because he gives absurd orders that are not dictated by military, but by political considerations. This leads to huge, unjustified and catastrophic losses for the Ukrainian army,” Putin stated, adding that Zelensky’s rating is two times lower than that of his political competitor, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhni.

“Of course, we would like Ukraine’s territory not to be used as a springboard for attacks on Russia, and that it would ultimately become a friendly neighbouring state,” the president concluded.

At the end of January, Putin expressed his readiness to appoint people who will negotiate with the Ukrainian leader, if he wants to participate in the talks.

According to the Russian president, negotiations between the two countries will be illegitimate if they are held now, because a way must be found to cancel the decree signed by Zelensky in October 2022, which prohibits talks with Putin.

The Russian president indicated that the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) can cancel the decree in question, since Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024.

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