Putin tells Ukraine: end war via talks or I will end it by force

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin told Kyiv on Wednesday that there was a chance to end the war in Ukraine via negotiations "if common sense prevails", an option he'd prefer, but that he was ready to end it by force if that was the only way.

Speaking in China at the end of a visit there, Putin said that he perceived "a certain light at the end of the tunnel" given what he said were sincere efforts by the United States to find a settlement to Europe's biggest land war since World War Two.

"It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict. That is my assumption," he told reporters in Beijing.

"Especially since we can see the mood of the current U.S. administration under President Trump, and we see not just their statements, but their sincere desire to find this solution.

"And I think there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel. Let's see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms."

Putin did not however indicate any willingness to soften his long-standing demands that Ukraine abandon any ideas of joining NATO, reverse what Moscow has described as discrimination against Russian speakers and ethnic Russians, or step back from the idea that Moscow must have full control of at least the Donbas area in eastern Ukraine.

He said he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskiy if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow, but that it remained to be seen whether such a meeting was worthwhile.

He repeated his view that Zelenskiy, whom has not faced re-election due to martial law despite his official term in office expiring, was illegitimate. Kyiv flatly rejects that, saying it is impossible to hold meaningful elections at a time of war.

Zelenskiy has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal even though the two sides remain far apart, urging Washington to sanction Moscow again if Putin does not agree.

U.S. President Donald Trump - who has been trying to broker a peace settlement - has also said he wants the two leaders to meet and spoken of but not yet imposed secondary sanctions on Russia.

Putin told reporters he had always been open to meeting Zelenskiy, but reiterated the Kremlin's oft-repeated stance that such a meeting had to be well prepared in advance and lead to tangible results.

"As for a meeting with Zelenskiy I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But is there any point? Let's see," said Putin.

(Reporting by Reuters in Moscow and Beijing;Writing by Andrew OsbornEditing by Guy Faulconbridge)