Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia remains open to peace negotiations with Ukraine but warned that Moscow is prepared to continue fighting if a settlement cannot be reached.

Putin argued that Russia’s security concerns, particularly regarding NATO and Ukraine’s potential military alignment with the alliance, must be addressed in any agreement.

He also criticized increased European defense spending and efforts by NATO members to strengthen their militaries, saying Russia views the buildup as a threat.

The comments come as Western countries continue debating long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and how to deter further Russian aggression, CNBC has reported.

Putin’s remarks suggest that while Moscow continues to publicly support negotiations, major disagreements over Ukraine’s future security and NATO’s role remain obstacles to ending the war.