“Russia is ready for talks on Ukraine, welcomes peace initiatives”: Kremlin spokesman

After US President-elect Donald Trump called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine, the Kremlin said Russia is “open to dialogue” and particularly welcomes peace initiatives launched by Global South countries and BRICS partners. Is.

Sharing a post on Twitter on Monday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying, “We have carefully read the statement of US President-elect Donald Trump, who along with Macron and Zelensky “It was given after their meeting.” Paris. Russia is ready for talks on Ukraine and welcomes the peace initiative. The necessary conditions for ending hostilities were set by President Putin.

Notably, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on December 7 during the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which was severely damaged in a devastating 2019 fire.

After the meeting, Trump said in a post on his/her Truth social platform, “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.” “Too many lives are being destroyed needlessly, too many families have been destroyed.”

The Kremlin’s statement emphasized that President Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is ready for talks on Ukraine and welcomes peace initiatives, “primarily with the countries of the global South, as well as China.” “The initiative coming from our BRICS partners, including Brazil and South Africa, is welcomed.” and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are engaged in work on the humanitarian track.

Peskov also highlighted Ukraine’s “rejection” of negotiations and accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of blocking negotiations with Moscow through a decree.

“Our position on Ukraine is well known. “The necessary conditions for an immediate cessation of hostilities were laid out by President Putin in his/her speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry in June this year,” the statement said.

It added, “The point to be reminded here is that it was Ukraine that rejected the talks, and the country still rejects them. Furthermore, Zelensky, by his/her own order, has banned himself and his/her presidential office from holding any talks with the Russian leadership. This particular stance of his/her remains unchanged. Nevertheless, all that Zelensky needs to do to enter the path of peace is to cancel this order and resume negotiations on the basis of the arrangements made in Istanbul and taking into account the realities taking shape on the ground. Issue orders.

Notably, the Russia–Ukraine conflict, which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, escalated into full-scale war in February 2022 when Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine.