Russia's interests not negotiable, but Moscow open to talks: Putin

MOSCOW • Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Moscow was ready to look for "diplomatic solutions" amid raging tensions with the West over Ukraine, but stressed that the country's interests were non-negotiable.

"Our country is always open for direct and honest dialogue, for the search for diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems," he said in a video address to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day, a public holiday in Russia.

But he added: "The interests of Russia, the security of our citizens, are non-negotiable for us."

Mr Putin spoke after Parliament's Upper House, the Federation Council, on Tuesday gave him unanimous approval to deploy "peacekeepers" to two breakaway Ukrainian regions now recognised by Moscow as independent, and potentially into other parts of Ukraine.

In the video address, Mr Putin congratulated the country's men, and said he was certain of the professionalism of the Russian military, and that they will stand up for the country's national interests.

He praised the battle-readiness of the Russian army, and said the country would continue to develop state-of-the-art weapons.

"We will continue to develop advanced weapon systems, including hypersonic and those based on new physical principles, and expand the use of advanced digital technologies and elements of artificial intelligence," the Kremlin strongman added.

"Such complexes are truly the weapons of the future, which significantly increase the combat potential of our armed forces."

Mr Putin had said on Tuesday that the best solution to the Ukraine crisis would be for Kyiv to drop its Nato membership ambitions and stay neutral.

"The best solution to the issue would be if the current Kyiv au-thorities themselves refused to join Nato and maintained neutrality," Mr Putin said.

Kyiv recalled its top diplomat from Moscow as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Mr Putin's recognition of the breakaway regions heralded further military aggression against Ukraine.

"An agreement was drawn up on the establishment from that date (Feb 22) of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People's Republic, as well as the Russian Federation and Luhansk People's Republic at the level of embassies," the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has sent congratulations to his counterparts in the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, the ministry said in a statement.

"The Russian side is aiming for the comprehensive development of cooperation with the DPR and LPR, including through the foreign ministries in the interests of the citizens of our countries, strengthening peace, regional stability and security," the statement added.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Putin said the Minsk peace agreements on Ukraine's conflict no longer existed, and he recognised claims by the separatists to more territory than they currently control.

But he added that the deployment of Russian troops would "depend on the specific situation... on the ground".

Russia has repeatedly denied plans for an attack on Ukraine, but says it has a duty to protect people living in the two breakaway regions. "We can see the difficult international situation and the threats posed by current challenges, such as the erosion of the arms control system and Nato's military activities," said Mr Putin.

"And yet, Russia's appeals to build a system based on equal and indivisible security that would reliably defend all countries remain unanswered."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS