Putin Accuses Kyiv of Striking Polling Stations: ‘We Were Ready to Resume Negotiations’

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin had been prepared to resume peace talks with Kyiv after last week’s Sept. 18-20 State Duma parliamentary elections, but claimed Ukraine launched attacks on Moscow and polling stations instead, undermining any immediate diplomatic possibility. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sept. 25, Putin said that all proposals for a peaceful settlement remained “on the table,” but noted that Russia must still weigh what serves its interests before moving forward.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. For the Kremlin, those interests have long included full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – a demand Kyiv categorically rejects as a prerequisite for a settlement. Despite the accusations, Ukrainian authorities consistently urge partners, particularly the US, to step up their efforts in brokering an end to the war. Kyiv has also repeatedly presented diplomatic initiatives to end hostilities, including direct meetings with Putin and proposals for an unconditional ceasefire. So far, Putin has rejected every proposal for a face-to-face meeting requested by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin: Russia is not preparing for a war with Europe Putin reiterated that Russia is not preparing for a war with Europe, asserting there are “no motives or grounds” for such a conflict. However, he also said Russia “will continue to fight for the rights of compatriots abroad, including in the Baltic states, but through international legal methods,” casting doubt on the country’s next steps as NATO allies and EU intelligence services increasingly warn of escalating Russian hybrid warfare activity. Other Topics of Interest EU Agrees to Release €6.6B for Ukraine From EPF, Once Blocked by Orbán Ukraine’s Defense Ministry welcomed plans by member states who wish to channel their reimbursements into further military support for Kyiv. “Aggressive circles in Europe want to use Ukraine as cannon fodder to restrict Russia’s development,” he added, according to Clash Report. On Thursday, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) issued a threat assessment report saying Russia could intensify attacks against the West and potentially launch a limited military operation against a NATO country within months. In April, Sweden’s top military commander warned that Russia could test NATO by seizing one of the thousand Baltic islands, while Latvia said in June that it had identified signs that Russia might be preparing “military provocations” against the Baltic states or Poland. US push could be losing momentum Putin’s latest remarks came as Washington stepped up its efforts to broker an end to the war by inviting him to the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Miami, held in December. “He’ll meet. He’s willing to meet. He’d like to see the war end,” US President Donald Trump said during a meeting with Zelensky at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday. “We’ve invited President Putin to the G20. We think it’s an opportunity for him to engage not just with the president but with other world leaders,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the same summit on Wednesday. The Kremlin first welcomed the invitation on Wednesday, before walking back on its statement on Thursday by saying it was too early to talk about it. Around the same time, Lavrov said that the Kremlin will not pause its “special military operation” even during negotiations. During the UNGA, 51 countries backed Ukraine in a joint statement, urging the Kremlin to agree to a full ceasefire and enter meaningful negotiations as large-scale Russian attacks continue in the fifth year of the war. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.