The Kremlin today accused Ukraine of pulling out of peace talks with Russia in March “at the behest” of the United States, even though a “very, very difficult balance” had been struck between Kyiv and Moscow.

“The text was really ready. (…) And then all of a sudden the Ukrainian side disappeared from the radar, (said) that it no longer wanted to continue negotiations,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, stating that Vladimir Putin considers it “obvious” that “such a refusal of already agreed agreements were made at the behest of Washington.

“The Ukrainian side declared its unwillingness to continue negotiations, and then this unwillingness actually turned into a law that prohibits the Ukrainian side and the President of Ukraine, and everyone else, from negotiating with Russia and with President Putin,” Peskov said.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in turn, ruled out any possibility of negotiations with Moscow, denouncing Vladimir Putin’s “deliberate rhetoric” and yesterday said that in order to unblock relations, Russia must stop attacks on political infrastructure.

According to Zelensky, Vladimir Putin’s messages of readiness for dialogue are just rhetoric aimed at Russian public opinion and countries that still maintain relations with Russia. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine will be ready for negotiations if Russia respects its sovereignty, territorial integrity and borders, which is not happening now.

The President of Ukraine, speaking yesterday during a press conference with the President of Guinea-Bissau, said that Russia had sent “signals” to Kyiv about the possibility of “building bridges.”

At the end of September, the President of Ukraine categorically stated that Ukraine would not negotiate with Russia as long as Vladimir Putin was president.

Negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow have stalled since March, with both sides blaming each other for the deadlock.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters.