Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia is open to a Slovakian proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine to end a conflict he said Russia was determined to bring to a conclusion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to Slovakia's proposal to host peace talks with Ukraine. During a meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, Putin acknowledged Slovakia’s neutrality and willingness to provide a platform for negotiations as a positive step towards resolving the conflict.

Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, has already halted military aid to Ukraine since autumn 2023 under Fico's government, and called for peace talks. Fico has accused Kyiv of jeopardising his country's supply of Russian natural gas, on which it is heavily dependent.

Russia sees no point in a weak ceasefire to freeze the war in Ukraine but Moscow wants a legally binding deal for a lasting peace that would ensure the security of both Russia and its neighbours, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

Slovakia could host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in the future after receiving approval from Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader who this week hosted Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico in Moscow,

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has dismissed Donald Trump’s calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, labelling it a “path to nowhere.” While Lavrov expressed openness to dialogue, he emphasized security guarantees and long-term agreements as prerequisites.

Russia has said it would only accept a legally binding ceasefire deal for a lasting peace that would ensure the security of both Russia and its neighbours. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that a weak ceasefire to freeze the war in Ukraine would be futile and counterproductive.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, spoke harshly and unscrupulously about the possibility of peace in Ukraine. In his opinion, a ceasefire is not possible today, and the Russian Federation demands guarantees and has further claims against Kyiv.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, spoke harshly and unscrupulously about the possibility of peace in Ukraine. In his opinion, a ceasefire is not possible today, and the Russian Federation demands guarantees,