Moscow: Moscow has expressed openness to U.S.-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine, but insists that legal hurdles imposed by Kyiv continue to block progress.
Speaking Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the prospect of talks as a "positive" step but emphasized unresolved issues.
His comments followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks to Congress a day earlier, in which he claimed to have received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaling a willingness to negotiate. Trump also suggested that Moscow had sent “strong signals” indicating its readiness for peace.
Despite this, Peskov questioned the feasibility of talks, referencing a decree signed by Zelensky in September 2022 that formally ruled out negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The general idea is encouraging, but the details remain unchanged,” Peskov stated.
The Kremlin has also cast doubt on Zelensky’s legitimacy as Ukraine’s leader, arguing that his presidential term ended in May 2024. However, under Ukrainian law, elections cannot take place while martial law remains in effect—a measure enforced since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Since taking office in January, Trump has pledged to end the war swiftly and has moved to reset relations with Russia. His decision to pause U.S. military aid to Ukraine has alarmed American allies but was welcomed by Moscow. Peskov described the freeze as a “step that could genuinely push the Kyiv government toward a peace process.”
