Despite the Kremlin's repeated statements about “openness to negotiations”, Russia is only interested in Ukraine's complete capitulation.
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov again accused Ukraine of unwillingness to negotiate. At the same time, he once again declared the “illegitimacy” of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, demonstrating the Kremlin's own unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.
This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published on Thursday, July 25.
“Peskov said Russia is “open to achieving [its] goals through negotiations,” but there are obstacles to negotiations, including the erroneous assertion that Zelensky is an illegitimate president and that Ukraine has imposed a “de facto legislative ban on any contacts and negotiations with the Russian side.” Peskov said Russia needs to understand “how ready Ukraine, the country's government, the Ukrainian side are, and how much [Ukraine] has permission [to negotiate] from its curators,” and that Ukraine is offering “completely different statements” on these issues, the report said.
Analysts recalled that Ukraine had previously presented a clear peace plan based on international law. In addition, Ukrainian officials have openly invited the Russian representative to attend the second Ukrainian peace summit, which will take place later in 2024.
Despite the Kremlin's repeated statements about “openness to negotiations,” its representatives have consistently indicated that Russia is only interested in a diplomatic settlement that will lead to Ukraine's complete capitulation. Peskov's statements also indicate that the Kremlin has not abandoned its position on the “illegitimacy” of the Ukrainian president, making negotiations with him impossible.
“ISW has detailed how the Kremlin distorted the Ukrainian Constitution and Ukrainian laws to support these Russian narratives about Zelensky's illegitimacy. Peskov also distorted Ukrainian legislation on negotiations with Russia,” ISW recalled.
This refers to a decree signed by Zelensky in October 2022, which states that negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are “impossible.” However, this document does not prohibit “any contacts and negotiations with the Russian side,” as Peskov claimed.
Recall that assumptions about the possibility of negotiations with Russia are increasingly heard in the information space. According to MP Roman Kostenko, it is impossible to talk about losing territories forever, because Ukraine has a chance.
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