The Ukrainian leadership should follow the national interests of the country and not those of third parties, the Russian president has said

The "third parties" that back Kiev are not interested in ending the Ukraine conflict, but are instead using the country for their own goals, Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Sky News Arabia's Nadim Koteich.

On Friday, during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), moderated by Koteich, Putin stated that Moscow is not seeking the surrender of Ukraine. "We insist on the recognition of the realities that have developed on the ground," he added.

After the session, he gave an interview to Sky News Arabia in which he reiterated that Kiev should respect the will of the people who voted to join Russia.

"I hope that the Ukrainian leadership will follow the national interests of the country and not the interests of the third parties that stand behind the regime," Putin said. "Ukraine deserves a better future, and not to be a tool in the hands of the third parties that are against Russia."

He added that Ukrainian neutrality and non-nuclear status are necessary for long-term stability in the region.

During a Q&A session on Friday, Putin said that negotiations held in Istanbul in early 2022, shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, fell apart under pressure from "neocolonial forces."

Earlier in June, top Russian negotiator and presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky told RT's Rick Sanchez that Ukraine had a chance to secure a deal on more favorable terms had it not withdrawn from negotiations in 2022. According to Medinsky, Kiev opted to walk away after consulting with the US and UK.

(RT.com)