Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed interest in using President Trump’s peace plan as a negotiating departure point to end the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia.

“We need to sit down and discuss this seriously,” Putin told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, according to an Associated Press report. He added, “Every word matters.”

Putin described U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan as “a set of issues put forward for discussion” rather than a draft agreement.

RUSSIA WARNS IT MAY REJECT US-UKRAINE PEACE PLAN IF IT FAILS TO UPHOLD ALASKA SUMMIT ‘UNDERSTANDINGS’

“If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this by force,” the Russian strongman said.

Andy Barr, R-Ky., a House Foreign Affairs Committee member, told Fox News Digital the situation reinforces the need for strong American leadership. “Russia invaded Ukraine because Joe Biden was the weakest president in American history.”

Barr, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky said, “President Trump’s peace-through-strength leadership kept Putin fully contained. This war never would have happened under his watch. Trump is the peace president… the only leader who can end this war and bring stability back to Europe.”

However, Putin critics believe he is seeking to trick the U.S. and the European Union.

The former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, who predicted Putin’s jingoism and invasion of Ukraine, told the Polish international news network TVP that “Peace under Putin is unachievable for one simple reason: Putin is war — and Russia is gearing up for even more.”

Kasparov has also criticized NATO, Trump and the EU for failing to defend Ukraine and evict Russia from Ukraine’s entire territory.

“We owe them everything,” Kasparov recently said about Ukraine at the Halifax International Security Forum.

MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE

Kremlin officials have had little to say so far about the peace plan put forward last week by Trump. Putin has been recalcitrant about accepting previous Trump plans to end the war.

Putin has demanded that Ukraine completely withdraw from the entirety of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions before Russia considers any sort of “peace negotiations” — notably including areas of each of those oblasts that Russia does not occupy. He also wants to keep Ukraine from joining NATO and hosting any Western troops, allowing Moscow to gradually pull the country back into its orbit.

The Institute for the Study of War on Wednesday cast doubt on Russian claims that its invasion is unstoppable as it is still struggling to capture cities in the eastern Donetsk region.

“Data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent,” the Washington-based think tank said. “Recent Russian advances elsewhere on the front line have largely been opportunistic and exploited seasonal weather conditions.

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U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow next week, the Kremlin says, while U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who in recent weeks has played a high-profile role in the peace efforts, may be heading to Kyiv.   

The initial U.S. peace proposal was criticized for being skewed toward Russian demands, but an amended version emerged from talks in Geneva on Sunday between American and Ukrainian officials. Sidelined European leaders, fearing for their own security amid Russian aggression, are angling for deeper involvement in the process.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.

The Singapore International Film Festival launched its 36th edition with international star Shu Qi‘s first feature as director, marking the event’s most successful opening in its history.

The festival opened on Nov. 26 at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, with Shu Qi’s “Girl,” a semi-autobiographical drama set in 1980s Taipei. The director attended alongside lead actor Bai Xiao-Ying and actor-singer 9m88, joining festival ambassador Rebecca Lim and guest of honor Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information.

Ticket sales surged 52% compared to the same period last year, with 33 sold-out screenings to date — four times the number from 2024. The festival is on track to achieve the highest box office sales in its 36-year history.

Much of the buzz centered on Hong Kong cinema icon Tony Leung’s appearance at a special presentation of “Silent Friend.” Both that screening and his “In Conversation With Tony Leung” session sold out within 10 minutes of tickets going on sale, ranking among the hottest tickets in SGIFF history.

Local productions also drew strong interest. Singaporean films “The Old Man and His Car” and “Sandbox” sold out within a day. Japanese titles including “Kokuho,” “Two Seasons Two Strangers” and “Bring Me Down to Portable Size” were among the fastest-selling international films. All titles connected to Shu Qi, including “Girl” and “Resurrection,” have sold out.

“This year’s response has been truly overwhelming,” said Jeremy Chua, general manager of SGIFF. “The energy we’ve seen from audiences emphasizes the value of the collective experience of film. It has been a challenging year for the cinema landscape in Singapore, but what we are witnessing through SGIFF is proof that there is demand for cinema.”

The festival runs through Dec. 7, showcasing over 120 films from more than 45 countries, including over 30 made-in-Singapore productions and co-productions. The lineup focuses on stories of identity, resilience and rediscovery.

This year’s “In Conversation With” series features filmmaker Deepa Mehta, recipient of the Cinema Honorary Award; Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung, who receives the Screen Icon Award; and Hollywood-based Singaporean actor Chin Han.

Marina Bay Sands continues its partnership with the festival, hosting the opening film and two “In Conversation With” sessions. Paul Town, chief operating officer of Marina Bay Sands, said the integrated resort’s venues provide an ideal setting for celebrating art and film.

A frequent collaborator with Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, Shu Qi embarked on filmmaking at his suggestion. “Girl” premiered at Venice and won her the best director award at Busan International Film Festival. The film follows 10-year-old Hsiao-lee in 1980s Taipei as she navigates domestic dysfunction and forms a friendship with a precocious transfer student.

As an actor, Shu Qi has appeared in over 90 films, including three collaborations with Hou: “The Assassin,” “Millennium Mambo” and “Three Times.” She has won two Golden Horse Awards and three Hong Kong Film Awards.

The opening night red carpet drew prominent figures from Singapore’s entertainment industry, including Chin Han, Tan Kheng Hua, Lim Kay Tong, Hong Hui Fang, Jack Neo, Qi Yuwu, Yvonne Lim, Tay Ping Hui, Jeanette Aw, Lim Yu Beng, Irene Ang, Nathan Hartono and Benjamin Kheng.

The Singapore International Film Festival is part of the Singapore Media Festival 2025, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority.