Kremlin: Yermak case will not affect Russia–Ukraine peace talks

A criminal case in Ukraine against former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak will not affect the peace settlement process in the conflict, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, has stated.

Peskov said the investigation is an “internal issue of Kyiv and those who financed Yermak,” and the Kremlin is “not closely following the developments,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to him, if the court proves that a corruption crime took place, “this is a matter for the Kyiv authorities themselves and those whose money was embezzled.”

He added that, at present, the United States is acting as the sole mediator between Moscow and Kyiv.

European countries, Peskov said, “do not want and cannot” serve as mediators because they are effectively participating in hostilities on Ukraine’s side and promoting the idea of a “crushing strike against Russia.”

“They are now effectively directly involved in the war on the side of the Kyiv authorities and are rather advocates of the idea of inflicting a ‘crushing blow’ on Russia, a ‘crushing defeat,’” the Kremlin official noted.

“Of course, with such an approach, they can hardly claim mediation,” he added.

Peskov also noted that Russia and Ukraine continue preparations for a prisoner exchange, noting that work is underway to agree on lists.

“This is the most difficult part of the work; it is continuing very quickly,” he stressed.

Separately, he made it clear that there are “many willing buyers” of Russian oil and petroleum products, adding that the market remains flexible, including interest from India.

“Regarding energy purchases, you know that there are many willing buyers of our energy resources, regardless of various illegal restrictions on our oil, which we do not agree with and do not accept. There are many interested parties, many applications. It is impossible to go into detail for obvious reasons. But the energy market is very dynamic,” he said.

In addition, the Russian leadership expects separate contacts with Chinese President Xi Jinping, regardless of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.

“We expect independent contacts with Xi Jinping,” Peskov explained.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov