Russia is ready to hold a dialogue for a peaceful end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Axar.az reports that Russian President Volodymyr Putin said this at a meeting with media leaders of the BRICS countries.

He said that Russia is ready to hold a dialogue with Kiev only on the basis of Istanbul agreements.

Putin said that he is not against Saudi Arabia as a possible venue for the conference on Ukraine, but the issue is "what to discuss".

Putin believes that Kiev should first cancel the decree prohibiting negotiations with the Russian Federation.

He said that the Russian Federation wants a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, including because it thinks of its own soldiers:

"Russian soldiers are fighting for their territory during a special operation. Russia is ready to continue the armed struggle, Victory will be ours."

The Russian president is against "a one-week, two or one-year ceasefire" in Ukraine. According to him, conditions are necessary for lasting peace.

Putin noted that NATO is fighting Russia and Ukraine at the hands of Ukrainian soldiers, and Kyiv does not feel sorry for its soldiers for the sake of the interests of third countries:

"The Ukrainian army itself is not capable of using high-precision weapons, NATO specialists do all this."