Kremlin sees no way for talks to move towards peace but invites Zelenskyy to Moscow again
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the current circumstances do not allow for a pathway towards negotiations on ending the war, but reiterated once again that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could come to Moscow for talks.
Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax
Quote: "There are currently no preconditions for negotiations to move towards a peaceful settlement."
Details: However, Peskov claimed the Kremlin remains "open to peace talks".
Asked whether the Kremlin is willing to discuss the possibility of holding a meeting with Ukraine at the highest level, Peskov said: "Our position is well-known. Putin has said that Zelenskyy can come to Moscow if he wishes. He will be provided with the necessary security guarantees."
The spokesman also claimed that Zelenskyy knows perfectly well "what decisions need to be made" for such a meeting to take place.
He added that the Kremlin believes that a high-level meeting "would be inappropriate and a waste of time before the work is completed at an expert level".
Background:
- At the start of talks with Donald Trump in New York on 22 September, Zelenskyy said he hopes that the US president will help end the war in Ukraine before winter.
- Zelenskyy also said at a press conference following the talks that he is prepared to meet Putin, and that Trump could help arrange a trilateral meeting.
- Trump recently said he is prepared to use the Graham Act on sanctions against Russia if necessary.
- He also called on Putin to end the war against Ukraine. On his way to the UN General Assembly meeting, Trump briefly stopped to speak to journalists and was asked what message he had for Putin. "Settle the war!" the US president replied.
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