‘We didn’t start this war’: Putin rejects idea he’d bear responsibility for future deaths if he refuses Trump’s peace plan

During his end-of-year press conference on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked by NBC journalist Keir Simmons whether he would consider himself responsible for the deaths of Russians and Ukrainians next year if he rejects Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan.

“We don’t consider ourselves responsible for people’s deaths because we didn’t start this war. It began after the unconstitutional armed coup in Ukraine,” Putin replied.

Putin said he “highly values” Trump’s peace initiatives and claimed he had “practically agreed” to Trump’s proposals during their summit in Alaska, even though they would require “difficult decisions.”

He repeated his earlier statements that Russia is ready for negotiations and for ending the war through peaceful means.

“The ball is entirely on the side of the leader of the Kyiv regime and his European sponsors,” Putin said.