Putin's Hand Always Open to Europe, Says Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is open to establishing contact with Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday (19/6). “President Putin has repeatedly said that we are ready to negotiate, we are ready for contact, and we are not the initiators of ending and reducing these contacts to zero,” Peskov told reporters. Peskov added that European countries are mistaken if they believe Russia must be confronted from a position of strength. “The logic of common sense, of course, indicates the need for contact to discuss a large number of issues, the most complex problems that are on the agenda and pose challenges for us,” he said. According to Peskov, if there are indeed forces in Europe that understand the importance of dialogue with Russia without ultimatums, then Russia will be open to it. He also added that Europe needs to understand the actual conditions, including regarding the situation in the Ukraine conflict.