Russian President Putin is this week attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where he has issued key statements and at times fielded questions from the press.
Among the most important questions asked from the press pool were on the matter of whether peace in the Ukraine conflict is still possible, given that this very week things have drastically escalated.
Among the major escalations include Zelensky's threat to 'close Russian skies' through ramped-up drone and missile attacks, or in effect threatening even civilian aviation.
Somewhat surprisingly, Putin responded by saying that yes, there is still a chance for settlement in the Ukraine crisis. As a reminder, Putin has still not yet raised the operation to status of full-scale 'war' - instead it remains at the level of Special Military Operation.
The exchange with the press is transcribed below via state media:
Reporter: Are there any chances for a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict? In my opinion, yes, there are," Putin said at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2026).
Putin: First of all, it is Russia and Ukraine that should come to an agreement, the president said.
At the same time, Russia is grateful to everyone who is trying to contribute to the resolution of the conflict, the president said, adding that China is constantly focusing on resolving the conflict and believes that the problem should be solved by peaceful means.
Putin affirmed that the two sides' intelligence services have an open line of contact. Presumably, this is how occasional prisoner swaps are conducted - which have become somewhat routine throughout the conflict, now in its fifth year.
"Indeed, contacts do exist. They continue in the current mode as well, primarily through the special services," Putin said.
However, while outlining the chances for future peace settlement, he did acknowledge the Kiev and its Western backers are making this harder by the day:
"We have just heard about threats of attacks on civilian aircraft, which is, of course, a manifestation of state terrorism. And this complicates, of course, complicates the possibility of holding bilateral peace talks," Putin said at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2026), also referring to Norway's seizure of a Russian ship.
He blasted the Western allies' silence concerning these instances of 'international terrorism' - also after this summer Ukrainian drones have attacked even Russian online retail warehouses and hubs (belonging to Wildberries in particular).
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there was a chance of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, while Kyiv said it expected a "new dynamic" in peace efforts. --Reuters
Zelensky has openly stated he wants to make it hard for Russian society to even function, explaining that the country should feel just as much pain - if not more - than what Ukrainian citizens are suffering. He further wants the Kremlin to feel enough pressure that it will come to the negotiating table, hat in hand. But at this point the warring sides seem more hardened in their demands than ever.