Russia and Ukraine ready to negotiate end to conflict

(Dan Tri) - After Ukrainian President Volodymyr announced his readiness to have direct dialogue with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Moscow also signaled its readiness.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Photo: TASS).

In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan published on February 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "If people believe that we must move to a diplomatic path, we are ready to move to a diplomatic path, but it must involve the United States, Europe, Ukraine and Russia."

He stressed that if sitting across from Mr. Putin at the negotiating table "is the only mechanism to bring peace to the people, then Ukraine will certainly implement this mechanism, the mechanism for a four-way meeting."

The latest comments represent a significant shift in Mr Zelensky’s stance. Previously, he had considered the withdrawal of all Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s 1991 borders a prerequisite for any peace talks.

Responding to Mr Zelensky's latest statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that "there is no place for emotions" when it comes to resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

“What is needed here is legal analysis and absolute pragmatism. Mr. Zelensky has significant problems with legal legitimacy. Despite this, the Russian side is still ready for negotiations,” Mr. Peskov said.

Moscow's advances on the battlefield "clearly show that Kiev should be the one showing openness and interest in such talks," he said.

Up to now, President Putin and senior Russian officials have made clear their stance that Moscow is open to negotiations to end the conflict with Ukraine, but under certain conditions based on a preliminary agreement between Moscow and Kiev during the round of negotiations in Istanbul (Türkiye) in 2022.

Russia also continued to emphasize the legitimacy of the Ukrainian representative participating in the negotiations. Moscow believes that Mr. Zelensky no longer has the legitimacy to negotiate because his term has expired.

In an interview published on January 28, President Putin said that negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership would in fact have no legal meaning, since Kiev had issued a decree banning negotiations with Moscow.

"If we start negotiations now, the negotiations will be illegal... Because when the head of government signed this decree, he was a legitimate president. But now he cannot cancel the decree anymore, because he is no longer a legitimate president. That is the problem," Mr. Putin explained.

"If he wants to participate in negotiations, I will arrange people to participate in such negotiations," the Kremlin chief said.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-va-ukraine-cung-san-sang-dam-phan-cham-dut-xung-dot-20250205172808193.htm