Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Russia would hold back from launching new attacks on other countries, provided his nation is treated “with respect.”

The comments were made during his annual televised press conference in Moscow, as concerns persist among nations that Russia poses a security threat, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“Will there be additional special military operations? There will be none if you treat us with respect and respect our interests—just as we have consistently sought to respect yours,” Putin said.

Putin uses the term “special military operation” to refer to the conflict in Ukraine, AFP reported.

He further noted there would be no more Russian invasions “if you do not deceive us as you did with NATO’s eastward expansion,” according to AFP.

The Russian leader also asserted he was “ready and willing” to end the war in Ukraine “peacefully,” though he offered few details indicating a willingness to compromise, the BBC reported.

The annual news conference, which typically runs for at least four hours, features questions from journalists and members of the public across Russia.

Over 2.5 million questions were submitted for this year’s event, which focused heavily on the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Putin also mentioned during the conference that the country’s “troops are advancing” and expressed confidence that Russia will achieve its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not agree to Russia’s terms in peace talks, according to The Associated Press.

“Our forces are making progress along the entire line of contact—faster in some areas, slower in others—but the enemy is retreating in all sectors,” Putin declared.

As the war continues to drag on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a loan of more than $105 billion.

Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.