Russia said the call for Mr. Zelensky ‘cliché’

“The readiness to negotiate must be based on some basis, instead of such a ban,” said Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman on February 5, referring to the decree signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022 , eliminating all the ability to negotiate with Russia when President Vladimir Putin is still in power.

Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s long -standing stance that Zelensky could not dialogue with President Putin when the decree banning the negotiation of Kiev was still valid. “So far, Zelensky’s statement is just cliché,” said the Kremlin spokesman.

The comment made by Peskov after Mr. Zelensky in an interview announced on February 4 with journalist Piers Morgan said he left the ability to be ready to negotiate directly with Mr. Putin.

Mr. Peskov emphasized that “the fact that Ukraine must be the side to express an open attitude and care about previous negotiations,” seemed to refer to the recent Russian steps on the battlefield.

“Mr. Zelensky is facing major legal problems in Ukraine. But even so, we are still ready to negotiate,” he said.

Russia has long said that President Zelensky no longer has legal authority because his term has ended in May 2024 and no presidential election has been held in Ukraine since then.

The Ukrainian Constitution stipulates that the President of the National Assembly is unable to take on the job. However, the Ukrainian government affirmed that Mr. Zelensky was still a legal president with the reason that the martial law order has been effective since the conflict broke out in February 2022. According to them, wartime conditions make not suitable for organizing the election.

President Putin last month said Moscow could negotiate peace with Kiev, but excluding the possibility that he would discuss directly with Mr. Zelensky.

After taking office on January 20, US President Donald Trump pressured both Russia and Ukraine to make a commitment to end the conflict. He threatened to impose a tougher sanction on Russia, while the statement of President Zelensky was ready to negotiate a “agreement”.

When asked about US comments regarding the possibility of a meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin, the Kremlin spokesman said, “There was really the contact between the two sides and they were enhanced recently. “, but not mentioning the prospect of the meeting between the leaders of the two countries.