On Thursday, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of walking out of March peace talks with Russia “at the behest” of the United States just as a “very, very difficult balance” was being struck between Kyiv and Moscow, France Presse and Agerpres reported.

Dmytro Peskov, Kremlin spokesmanPhoto: Serhii Guneev / Sputnik / Profimedia

“The text was actually ready (…). And then suddenly the Ukrainian side disappeared from the radar, declared that it no longer wants to continue the negotiations,” complained the spokesman of the Russian president, Dmytro Peskov, stating that Vladimir Putin considers it “obvious” that “such a rejection of the agreements had already been agreed upon, clearly took place at the behest of Washington”.

“It’s pretty obvious,” he told the media.

On Wednesday, the acting president of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), Umaro Sissoko Embalo (Guinea-Bissau), said in Kyiv that Vladimir Putin, whom he visited the day before, “expressed the idea that he is ready for negotiations with the president.” Zelensky”.

When asked about these remarks, Peskov assured that Russia “is ready to guarantee its interests at the negotiating table.”

“We want them, but in this particular case we are talking about complete reluctance on the part of Ukraine,” he said, noting that there was no “specific message” from the Ukrainian presidency.

Volodymyr Zelensky quickly rejected any possibility of negotiations with Moscow, condemning the “prepared rhetoric” of Vladimir Putin.

He was even more categorical at the end of September, assuring that Ukraine will not negotiate with Russia while Vladimir Putin is the president.

Negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow have been at an impasse since March, with both sides blaming each other for the impasse.

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