Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that China, India, and Brazil could play crucial roles as mediators in potential peace talks regarding Ukraine. He emphasized that the preliminary agreement reached during the Istanbul negotiations in the early weeks of the conflict—though never implemented—could serve as a foundation for these discussions. Putin stated, 'We have never refused to negotiate,' but insisted that any talks must be based on previously agreed documents rather than new demands. He also commented on Ukraine's military actions, claiming that Kyiv's incursions have inadvertently weakened its own forces, thereby allowing Russia to advance in the conflict. The Kremlin's openness to negotiations comes despite earlier assertions that certain Ukrainian actions made talks impossible. This development signals a potential shift in the diplomatic landscape surrounding the ongoing war.