...
By Jon Jackson
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent comments about being ready to have direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the remarks "empty words."
However, Peskov did say Moscow is open to negotiations in order to end the war in Ukraine.
Newsweek reached out to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email on Wednesday for comment.
Read More on World
Why It Matters
U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House has amplified speculation about negotiations to end the war started by Putin in February 2022.
On January 24, Putin told reporters that Moscow is ready for talks with Trump on ending the war. However, he added that any peace deal with Kyiv would be invalid because of a decree by Zelensky.
Moscow has repeatedly said Zelensky is an illegitimate leader stemming from the martial law he declared due to the war, which banned presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Before the decree, his five-year term was set to expire in May 2024.
...
What To Know
On Tuesday, Zelensky said during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored that he is ready to sit at the negotiating table with Putin.
The Ukrainian leader said his country is ready for "the end of the hot stage of the war" and to move to the "diplomatic track."
He added that "at the negotiation table there must be the United States, Europe, Ukraine and Russia."
"We will be speaking with Putin. Don't we make too many compromises? Even the conversation with Putin is already a compromise," Zelensky said. "Nobody knows how this conversation will start and how it will end. Nobody knows, but we believe that President Trump wants to succeed in this situation."
When Piers Morgan asked how he would personally feel sitting opposite Putin at a negotiating table, Zelensky answered: "If that is the only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people, definitely we will go for this setup for the meeting with these four participants."
While speaking with journalists on Wednesday about Zelensky's interview, Peskov again questioned the Ukrainian president's legitimacy, seemingly alluding to the decree.
"Mr. Zelensky has big problems de jure in terms of his legitimacy, but even so, the Russian side remains open to negotiations," Peskov said, adding there must be a "readiness and desire" for peace talks.
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Piers Morgan on Tuesday about the prospect of having direct talks with Vladimir Putin: "I will not be kind to him. I consider him an enemy. And to be honest, I believe he considers me an enemy as well."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday regarding Zelensky's comments about talks with Putin: "So far this cannot be seen as anything but empty words."
What Happens Next
Trump has said he will soon be speaking with his Putin.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines