The Kreml sees better rhetoric from Selenskyj
In an interview, Zelenskyy expressed his readiness to negotiate with Russia. This statement is better than previous ones from the Ukrainian president, says Kremlin spokesperson Peskov. Russia will observe developments in the US.
The Kremlin has expressed a positive attitude towards the recent statements of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding possible negotiations between the two countries regarding the war. "This is certainly better than statements that all contacts with the Russian side and with Russian President Vladimir Putin are excluded," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow. "It's much better to speak in some tone of dialogue than to talk about the intention to fight until the last Ukrainian."
Zelenskyy had previously told the BBC that he could speak with Putin, despite having himself banned contacts with the Russian side and Putin by decree in reaction to Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk in 2022. In the interview, Zelenskyy confirmed his principled readiness to negotiate with Russian representatives at a new peace summit. "And whether Putin will be there or not makes no difference," he said.
Peskow noted that it remains to be seen what specifically lies behind Zelenskyy's statements. Russia had rejected participation in a peace summit organized by Zelenskyy and also questioned his legitimacy as president.
Russia intends to pursue goals "to the end"
Peskow also made it clear, as he had already done in the night, that Russia is waiting and observing after the exit of US President Joe Biden from the US presidential campaign. As long as Biden remains in office, there will be no change in US support for Ukraine, which will prolong the war. "There's nothing good to expect," Peskov said. "This doesn't lead to the resolution of the conflict over Ukraine."
For Russia, pursuing its own goals in the neighboring country to the end takes priority. However, the future of Russian-American relations is of great importance to Moscow because "they are now going through the worst period of their history."
Regarding the role of US Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden has proposed as a candidate, Peskow also spoke cautiously. She has not yet made a concrete contribution to the relationship between the two countries but only unfavorable remarks about Russia.
The Russian response to Zelenskyy's negotiation proposal has been cautious, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov acknowledging it as an improvement over previous statements. Peskov, speaking in Moscow, stated that while Russia will monitor developments in the US, their stance on the Ukraine-Conflict remains firm. According to Peskov, Russia intends to pursue its goals related to Ukraine "to the end," hinting at their determination to maintain their influence in the neighboring country. Despite this, Moscow recognizes the significance of Russian-American relations, acknowledging that they are currently experiencing a difficult period.
