Kremlin signaled today that is open to negotiations with Ukraine to end the conflict while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in power, although he has publicly expressed doubts about his legitimacy to rule, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
In response to a question about whether Russia is ready to talk with Ukraine while Zelensky is in power, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today: "Russia in general is open to a negotiation process. But first we need to find out how ready the Ukrainian side is for this and how much the Ukrainian side has permission for this from those who tell them what to do.
Moscow presents Zelensky as a puppet of the United States, and he rejects this claim, notes Reuters.
"Because so far we've seen a lot of conflicting statements and it's still not very clear. And besides the problem with Zelensky's legitimacy, there is also a problem with the (Ukrainian) legal ban on any contacts and negotiations with the Russian side. That is why there are still many things that need to be clarified and clarifications that need to be heard," Peskov also said.
In response to a pressing inquiry whether the Kremlin could imagine negotiations with Zelensky or categorically rules out such a possibility, Peskov said: "This is not an easy question. From a legal point of view, this issue (of its legitimacy) is on the agenda, but from a practical point of view, we are open to achieving our goals through negotiations. That's why different options are possible here.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said yesterday during a visit to China that Kiev was ready for talks with Russia if Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully respected, but added that his country had seen no signs that to be possible.
Despite signaling that it is willing to hold talks on its own terms, the Kremlin has publicly expressed doubts about Zelensky's legitimacy to govern, pointing out that his five-year term expired in May and that he should have called an election, according to Reuters .
Zelensky and the West argue that the overturning of normal political rules is imperative amid the war and that the Kremlin, given its own tight control over the Russian political system, is in no position to criticize.