Russia's position on the possibility of concluding a peace agreement with Ukraine reflects changes on the front where Moscow's forces are advancing, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said, quoted by Reuters.
Maria Zakharova said this in response to a question from the news agency whether Russia's position had changed since June 2024, when President Vladimir Putin announced that Ukraine should officially abandon its ambitions for NATO membership and withdraw its troops from the entire territory of the Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow.
"Yes, there are changes in the Russian position. These changes reflect changes on the ground," Zakharova noted.
She quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who in 2024 said that Ukraine loses territory every time it refuses negotiations with Russia.
Moscow currently controls just under a fifth of Ukraine's territory and says that these territories are already part of Russia. Ukraine and Western Europe do not accept this position. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and to date, Russian forces control almost the entire Luhansk region, as well as over 70% of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, according to Russian authorities. Russia also controls part of Kharkiv region.
Zakharova today expressed gratitude to China and Brazil for seeking ways to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
She also commented on the possible negotiations in Istanbul, saying: "As for the Ukrainian side: how ready is it? What is it ready for? I think that will be seen, including today in Istanbul".
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it will never recognize Russian control over its territories. In addition, Kiev officials said that the demand for neutrality of Ukraine and its agreement to it is a red line that they will not cross, Reuters recalls.
Zakharova said at a press conference today that attempts by Western countries or other states to talk to Russia through "blackmail, threats or ultimatums" are absolutely pointless, TASS added. She commented on France's attempts to put pressure on Russia and threaten it with new sanctions if it does not reach a peace agreement with Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that no country has the right to threaten anyone, "there is no such line in international law".