Putin will visit east Ukraine's Donbas in due time: Kremlin

No peace deal in sight as Moscow insists the West must recognise its annexed territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin will in due time” visit east Ukraine’s Donbas region, which he claims to have annexed, the Kremlin has told Russian news agencies.

“In due time this will happen, of course. This is a region of the Russian Federation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, without indicating when this could happen.

More than nine months into the war ignited by Russia’s invasion that has killed tens of thousands, uprooted millions and destroyed cities and towns, United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would be willing to talk with Mr Putin about a possible peace agreement in Ukraine.

Although Mr Biden’s remark was taken by some as a new emphasis on moving towards peace talks with Russia, Mr John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters that Mr Biden’s position had not changed.

“We're just not at a point now where talks seem to be a fruitful avenue to approach right now,’ Mr Kirby told reporters, his comment underscoring the chasm between Ukraine and its main backer and Russia on negotiations.

Kyiv says peace talks are only possible if Moscow halts its attacks and withdraws from all Ukrainian territories it seized.