Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed that he believes the decision to invade Ukraine should have been made sooner.
Speaking during a marathon national address spanning over four hours, Putin reflected on the ongoing war, which began in February 2022, and claimed it has made Russia “stronger.”
“The decision to invade should have been made earlier,” he remarked, adding that Russia could have “prepared for it in advance and more thoroughly.”
According to Sky News, Putin also asserted that Russia has become a “truly sovereign country” in recent years. “Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country,” he claimed.
“We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defence potential and our military capability now is the strongest in the world.”
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The Russian leader hinted at the possibility of ending the conflict, expressing openness to discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump. “Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for both talks and compromise,” Putin said.
He further added, “Soon, those Ukrainians who want to fight will run out, in my opinion, soon there will be no one left who wants to fight. We are ready, but the other side needs to be ready for both negotiations and compromises.”
Any potential talks, however, must be based on “the situation on the ground,” Putin emphasised, referencing prior demands that Ukraine withdraw its NATO membership bid and recognise Russia’s territorial gains—terms that have been rejected by both Kyiv and the West.
He also noted that any agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would depend on Zelenskyy’s re-election, as his term was extended beyond May due to martial law.
