Gerasimov informed Putin of the capture of Kupyansk

Ukrainian leadership either does not have objective information about the situation on the battlefield or is unable to assess it objectively, Putin said

"Either the Kiev leaders do not have objective information about the situation on the front, or if they do, they are simply unable to assess it objectively," Putin believes."If Kiev is not willing to discuss President Trump's proposal and rejects it, then it must understand, even with the European warmongers, that the events that took place in Kupyansk will inevitably be repeated in other key areas of the front," the Russian president says. According to Putin, Kupyansk was already in the hands of the Russian armed forces on November 4.

"Our guys were just finishing clearing certain blocks and streets. The fate of the city was already decided at that moment," Putin explained. The Russian leader noted that Kiev had claimed at the time that there were no more than 60 Russian soldiers in Kupyansk and had also announced that Ukrainian troops would soon unblock the city.

According to Putin, Russia is ready for peace talks, but is also satisfied with the dynamics on the front, given Kiev's refusal to settle the conflict, which is leading to the achievement of the goals of the 'special military operation' (as Russia calls the war in Ukraine).

The US 28-point peace plan could form the basis of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

"I believe that (the US 28-point peace plan - TASS note) can be used as the basis for a final peace settlement [in Ukraine]," Putin said.

"But this text has not been discussed with us in a meaningful way," the president continued."And I can imagine why. The reason, in my opinion, is the same: the American administration has not yet been able to secure the consent of the Ukrainian side. Ukraine is against it."

Like ghosts in the fog. Russians enter Pokrovsk

Putin said that they had discussed the American peace proposals before the meeting in Alaska. During these preliminary talks, the United States asked Russia for flexibility, the TASS agency reports.

“We have thoroughly briefed our friends and partners from the global South on all these issues, including the People’s Republic of China, India, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, South Africa, Brazil and many other countries, including, of course, the CSTO countries (the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which brings together some post-Soviet states),” Putin said. “All our friends and partners, I want to emphasize, every single one, have supported these possible agreements,” he added.