Russian President Vladimir Putin said on January 28 that his government is willing to engage in peaceful dialogue with Ukraine and seek solutions to the country's crisis.

"I fully agree that it is our responsibility to solve the problem through diplomatic means," Mr. Putin said at a news conference, adding that Russia needed to "ensure the security of the country".

Mr. Putin also stressed the importance of Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine, which he said were aimed at protecting the people of Russian-speaking regions from "external threats." However, he acknowledged that "these actions do not have broad support from the international community."

Mr. Putin said he wanted to see action from the US, the European Union and the UN to prevent an escalation and criticised western sanctions against Russia as "immoral".

Putin also called on Russian citizens to avoid traveling to Crimea and other regions to avoid falling victim to the conflict. He said this would help ease tensions and lay the foundation for peace.

Putin finally said he hoped to reach an agreement on Ukraine and pledged to do his best to achieve that.

Overall, Putin's speech demonstrated his firm position on a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis. While he emphasized Russia's importance in the region, he also raised the issue of international support and sanctions. Finally, he called on Russian citizens to remain calm and avoid getting involved in the conflict.