Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is prepared to wait if Kyiv believes it is not yet time to engage in negotiations, stating that Russia can be patient regarding the settlement process in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported on August 1.

"In principle, we can wait, if Ukraine's leadership considers that now is not the time and we need to wait, then we are ready to wait," Putin told journalists.

The Russian President was responding to comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggesting that negotiations should wait until there is a change of regime in Russia.

Putin added that the current Ukrainian government is not based on the country's constitution, according to the Russian leader's remarks.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko noted that Ukrainian authorities are demanding the impossible when it comes to settling the conflict with Russia.

The comments come as previous reports suggested that Kyiv has demonstrated uncertainty in potential negotiations with Russia regarding the ongoing conflict.

Putin's statement indicates Moscow's position that it remains open to dialogue whilst placing responsibility for the timing of any settlement discussions on Ukrainian leadership.

Putin’s latest remarks come following one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Kyiv in recent months. A missile strike on the Ukrainian capital killed 15 and injured 135, including many children, according to local officials. Emergency services responded across multiple districts as hospitals declared high alert.

Ukrainian authorities condemned the bombardment as a deliberate assault on civilian infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence said the missiles struck “non-military sites” and labelled the attack a breach of international humanitarian law. Russia has not commented on the incident and continues to deny targeting civilians.

US President Donald Trump called Russia’s attacks on Ukraine “disgusting” in his most strongly worded criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin yet, and warned that Washington will impose new sanctions if no agreement is reached by August 8, Reuters reported on July 31.

“If no settlement occurs, Washington will introduce new sanctions, restrictions or other pressure measures,” Trump said, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. “I’m not sure whether sanctions would deter Russia,” he added.

The Kremlin says it is ready for new sanctions and that after 30,000 measures it has become “immune” to new ones. Russia’s Ministry of Finance stated that the country’s financial reserves are adequate to endure potential new US sanctions, TASS reported on July 31 and the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) reported that its international reserves have reached a fresh record value of $695.5bn this week, after rising $11bn in one week.