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Peskov is waiting for Ukraine to lift the ban on negotiations with Putin
The Ukrainian leadership must "demonstrate interest" and lift the legislative ban on contacts with Putin, Dmitry Peskov noted.
Russia is not refusing to negotiate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even though it considers him "illegitimate," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, February 5.
"Mr. Zelensky has big problems de jure in terms of his legitimacy, but even despite this, the Russian side remains open to negotiations," he said.
According to Peskov, the Ukrainian leadership must "demonstrate interest" and lift the legislative ban on contacts with Putin. Otherwise, the Kremlin will not take Zelensky's statements about his readiness for direct negotiations seriously.
"Readiness must be based on something... It cannot be based on a legislative ban on such negotiations for Zelensky. Therefore, for now, apart from empty words, it is impossible to accept this," Peskov said.
Answering the question of whether Putin considers Zelenskyy an enemy, the spokesman said that "there cannot and should be no room for emotions here - only legal analysis and absolute pragmatism."
