Russia desires a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said, emphasizing that Moscow’s conditions for peace remain unchanged, while Kyiv once again calls for a summit between the leaders, AFP reported.

Putin has consistently rejected calls to end nearly three and a half years of military conflict in Ukraine, despite increasing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who this week issued a 10-day ultimatum to halt hostilities.

“We need a lasting and stable peace on a solid foundation that satisfies both Russia and Ukraine and guarantees the security of both sides,” Putin told journalists. He added that “the conditions (from the Russian side) definitely remain the same.”

Moscow has repeatedly called on Kyiv to cede control of four regions that Russia claims to have annexed, something the Ukrainian government deems unacceptable.

Ukraine calls on its Western allies to send more weapons to withstand Russia’s daily attacks and demands intensified sanctions against Moscow and its trading partners.

President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on a meeting with Putin to end the conflict, with Kyiv proposing talks by the end of August. He reiterated this call on social media, stating: “We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must end this war.” Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is ready “to meet at the leadership level at any time.”

During a joint press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin announced that Russia has begun mass production of the “Oreshnik” missile—a hypersonic weapon with nuclear capability. Russia used the “Oreshnik” in a strike on the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine last year and later announced it could deploy the missile in Belarus, its close ally.

“Our specialists, both Belarusian military and Russian, have chosen a site for the future positions,” Putin said. “Preparatory work is currently underway at these sites, and we will most likely complete this matter by the end of the year,” he added. | BGNES