The Kremlin on Wednesday said the statements of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he stated that he was ready for direct talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, were empty words.
DAILY POST reports that talk of a negotiated end to the nearly three-year conflict between Ukraine and Russia has increased, with US President Donald Trump pledging to end the fighting.
When asked how he would feel if he sat opposite Putin at a negotiating table, Zelensky said that if that were the only setup in which they could bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and avoid further loss of life, they would definitely go for it.
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said the statement could not be seen as anything other than empty words.
Recall that Putin, last week, said Moscow would hold talks with Ukraine but ruled out speaking directly with Zelensky.
Also, a decree signed by Zelensky in 2022 ruled out direct talks with Putin.
The Kremlin spokesman also reiterated Russia’s frequent claim that Zelensky is not a legitimate president, as his five-year mandate in office expired last year.