Putin Discusses Ukraine War Causes and Peace Options

In October 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the conflict in Ukraine, describing to UN Secretary-General António Guterres the chain of events he sees as its causes. Putin said he preferred ending the fighting in Ukraine and called for reaching peace agreements without further losses. He also rejected a ceasefire limited to long-range strikes, commented on statements about a Russian victory, said Ukraine does not hold its own elections while trying to disrupt Russia's, and made a statement about a ban on the Russian language in Ukraine.