Instead of peace, conditions: Peskov hinted at a “possible” meeting with Zelensky
фото: Reuters
Moscow is once again trying to avoid direct talks on ending the war against Ukraine, using bureaucratic language. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Vladimir Putin “does not rule out” a personal meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky — but only after some “expert work” has been completed.
This is stated in the Politico article.
The statement came amid a tough US stance: President Donald Trump is insisting on a ceasefire by August 8. If ignored, Moscow could face new tariff sanctions, Politico reports. Trump had previously given a 50-day deadline to reach a ceasefire, but later sharply shortened the deadline, expressing disappointment with Putin’s actions.
Commenting on the possibility of direct talks, Peskov noted that “the necessary preparatory work at the technical level” has not yet been completed. According to him, without this, the meeting of the leaders of the two countries will not take place.
Instead, official Kyiv is demonstrating openness to real dialogue. President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that he is ready for a personal meeting, calling for a move from formal comments to substantive negotiations.
“We understand well where decisions are made in Russia. Therefore, we once again propose to step out of the shadow of technical discussions and begin real negotiations at the level of heads of state,” Zelensky emphasized.
In response to Moscow’s latest maneuvers, the United States is stepping up its own diplomacy. In the coming days, the US President’s special representative, Steve Witkoff, will again arrive in Russia. He is expected to deliver a clear warning about the need to stop the hostilities.
Analysts believe that the Kremlin is deliberately delaying the dialogue, making vague demands in order to avoid political responsibility for the continuation of the war. This strategy allows Russia to maintain pressure on Ukraine on the front line while simulating a readiness for diplomatic solutions.
Recall, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that he was ready to end the war on the terms that were announced in June 2024.
As reported, the administration of US President Donald Trump held regular talks with Russian representatives, trying to find ways to end the war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the dialogue did not bring any tangible results, and Moscow continues to shell Ukrainian cities with missiles.
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