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Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, aiming to overthrow its pro-Western government and prompting heightened alert among NATO countries. Ukraine receives military and economic support from the West as it fights against Russia, which has faced extensive sanctions.
Following his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump sought to resolve the long-standing conflict with Putin, who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The SCO was initially a security forum to counter U.S. influence in Central Asia but has expanded its reach over time.
Putin claimed that NATO’s alleged aggressive plans regarding Europe are “utter nonsense” with no basis. He asserted that Ukraine joining NATO would be unacceptable for Russia, justifying the invasion by stating it was necessary given NATO’s bid to control almost the entire post-Soviet space.
Fico compared the European Union to a “toad at the bottom of a well,” unable to see its surroundings, reflecting Slovakia’s EU membership. On Monday, Russian authorities reportedly jammed GPS signals on a jet carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as it attempted to land in Bulgaria; however, the Kremlin denied these claims.
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Putin suggested that the Trump administration is listening to Russia about its justifications for the invasion of Ukraine, unlike the Biden administration. He claimed mutual understanding between Moscow and Washington regarding the conflict and expressed hope for continued constructive dialogue.
U.S.-Russia talks over Ukraine are planned, according to TASS. A spokesman for Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s assistant, stated that another round of inter-Ministry of Foreign Affairs consultations is currently scheduled. Many issues remain unresolved in these discussions.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
