Mohan Sinha
05 Sep 2026

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 3 that there was still a chance of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, while Kyiv said it expected renewed diplomatic activity.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's Far East, Putin said countries including the United States and China were ready to support a peace settlement. He stressed that any final agreement would have to be reached by Russia and Ukraine.

"Ultimately, however, the problem must be resolved by the countries involved in the conflict — Russia and Ukraine," he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv expected a new phase of political and diplomatic engagement, with peace efforts becoming more active in capitals around the world. He did not give details about what might lead to progress.

Putin offered no specific sign of an imminent breakthrough and instead pointed to recent Ukrainian attacks as an obstacle to negotiations. He accused Ukraine of attacking civilian merchant ships and threatening civilian aircraft, describing the actions as state terrorism and saying they could make peace talks more difficult.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned airlines and insurers that Russian airspace is dangerous because of Ukrainian drones, but said Ukraine's targets were Russian military facilities rather than civilian aircraft.

Putin said communication between Russia and Ukraine was continuing, mainly through intelligence channels, although he was uncertain whether the contacts would lead to a peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said India was willing to help if it could contribute to ending the conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier urged Putin to end the war and said India would support efforts to stop the fighting.

Russia to Close German Cultural Centers

In a related development, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it would close German cultural centers operating in the country, in the latest escalation between Moscow and Berlin.

The announcement came after Germany accused Russia of being behind an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Berlin has also announced plans to close the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in the German capital.

Lavrov said Germany's Goethe-Institut cultural centers in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg would be shut. He said taking any other action would amount to a loss of "self-respect" for Russia.

Speaking in Vladivostok at the same event, Lavrov said Germany "could not have failed to understand" that closing Russian House would "signify the end of their cultural presence in Russia."

The dispute intensified after an explosive-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4. The device was later safely defused. The airport is an important international freight center and supports Ukraine.

Western governments have repeatedly accused Moscow of carrying out sabotage and disruption operations across Europe. They say the alleged campaign is designed to weaken European support for Ukraine and create instability in European countries.

President Vladimir Putin has rejected the accusations. He said Germany was trying to shift attention away from its own problems and growing voter dissatisfaction. Putin also said that any evidence being presented against Russia "has been planted."