Russian President Vladimir Putin sits prior to the plenary session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 3, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is still a chance of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, even as Russian attacks continue against Ukrainian cities and Kyiv maintains its own long-range drone campaign against targets inside Russia.
Putin made the comments Thursday at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Far East, offering one of the more notable diplomatic signals from Moscow in recent days. He said Russia and Ukraine ultimately must reach an agreement themselves, while other countries—including the United States and China—could support the process.
“Is there a chance? In my view, there is.”
The comments are significant because they come only days after Putin declared that Russia was winning on the battlefield and accused Ukraine’s leadership of terrorism.
Putin Says Moscow and Kyiv Must Make the Deal
Putin emphasized that outside powers can assist but cannot ultimately resolve the conflict.
His remarks suggest Moscow wants any eventual settlement to be negotiated directly between Russia and Ukraine, rather than imposed by Washington or other international powers. China and the United States were specifically mentioned as countries willing to contribute to a settlement.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also described the diplomatic environment as having a “new dynamic,” although there has been no announcement of a breakthrough, ceasefire or agreement.
But Putin Also Says Ukraine Is Making Talks Harder
The Russian president simultaneously accused Kyiv of actions that he said complicate negotiations.
Putin criticized Ukrainian attacks involving shipping and Kyiv’s warnings that civilian aircraft should avoid Russian airspace. He described those actions as “state terrorism” and argued that they make bilateral peace negotiations more difficult.
Ukraine, meanwhile, says its warnings about Russian airspace are connected to the increasing danger posed by Ukrainian drone operations and Russia’s continuing military activity.
Russian Strikes Continue as Diplomacy Is Discussed
While Putin was speaking about peace, Russian forces continued attacking Ukraine.
A Russian overnight air assault on Odesa injured at least 17 people, including children, according to reporting published Thursday. Residential buildings were damaged, underscoring the disconnect between Moscow’s diplomatic rhetoric and the continuing violence on the ground.
Russian attacks have also continued against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has reportedly faced attacks on successive nights, while Ukrainian officials continue seeking additional air-defense capabilities.
The latest attacks show that, despite renewed diplomatic language, the battlefield remains active and dangerous.
Ukraine Keeps Taking the War Into Russia
Ukraine is also continuing its campaign of long-range drone attacks against Russian territory.
The attacks have increasingly affected Russian infrastructure and civilian life. The Associated Press reported that more than 43,300 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia and occupied Crimea between June and August, nearly six times the number reported during the same period the previous summer.
The attacks have targeted oil infrastructure and other facilities and have contributed to disruptions involving fuel supplies and air travel.
Putin has acknowledged the impact of Ukrainian strikes while claiming Russia’s air defenses have improved.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Putin’s declaration that a peace agreement is still possible is important—but it should not be mistaken for the beginning of an actual peace deal.
The reality on the ground remains dramatically different. Russian missiles and drones are still hitting Ukrainian cities, while Ukrainian drones are increasingly reaching deep into Russia. At the same time, both sides appear to understand that the war cannot continue indefinitely without enormous economic, military and political costs.
For now, the most important development is not that peace has arrived, but that Moscow is once again publicly acknowledging the possibility of a settlement while the fighting continues. Whether that rhetoric develops into serious negotiations will depend on whether Russia and Ukraine can overcome the fundamental disagreements that have kept the war going.
SOURCES: REUTERS – Putin cites chance of peace deal, Ukraine sees ‘new dynamic’
CNBC – Putin floats ‘chance’ at peace with Ukraine as NATO chief warns Russia is becoming ‘increasingly reckless’
MODERN DIPLOMACY – Can Russia and Ukraine Still Reach a Peace Deal? Putin Says Yes
THE GLOBE AND MAIL – Putin says chance of peace deal made harder by Ukrainian aviation warning
