Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday held Ukraine responsible for the lack of progress in negotiations aimed at ending the war that has been ongoing between the two countries for more than three years.

According to Qatar News Agency, during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin stated that he supports holding talks with Ukraine but made clear that expectations regarding the outcome should not be "exaggerated." He emphasized the need for comprehensive talks conducted quietly to reach a peaceful solution, rather than engaging in public discussions. Putin noted that if the Ukrainian leadership believes the timing is not right for negotiations, Russia is prepared to wait.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently asserted that serious negotiations would only be possible following a change of power in Moscow, indicating a significant obstacle to the peace process.