Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the United Cultures Forum in St. Petersburg, Putin said Moscow had been ready to renew contacts after the State Duma elections that ended on September 20, but did not do so because of Ukrainian attacks.
Putin asserted that on the night of September 19-20, the main day of voting, an attempt was made to carry out a massed strike on Moscow, with more than 1,600 drones entering the Moscow zone. He also said polling stations were hit.
"All these tracks aimed at the so-called reconciliation, and proposals to resume negotiations. Yes, they are all on the table, it is all possible, but after everything they have done, we will think it over properly, what we need to do in response," Putin said.
He added that Russia would decide on a possible resumption of the negotiating process based on its own interests. According to Putin, Kyiv requested a truce because Russia's response to Ukrainian attacks proved "so sensitive" and because Ukraine has no way to counter Geran drones.
Putin said Russia had already repaired the damage from the attacks. He also said Moscow is not preparing for war with Europe, saying there are no "motives or grounds" for it.
Commenting on relations with European countries, Putin said they "inflate the situation and engage in provocations," using Ukraine as a tool in the fight against Russia. He separately mentioned violations of the rights of Russian speakers in the Baltic states, noting that Russia responds to this on a humanitarian level.