Russia dismisses peace talks until Ukraine repeals negotiation ban

The Kremlin has weighed in on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent remarks indicating a potential readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that no progress can be made as long as Kyiv’s official ban on negotiations remains in place.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said on July 21 that, “Zelenskyy’s ban on talks is still in effect,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

He noted that despite verbal signals suggesting a willingness to engage in dialogue, there has been no formal reversal of Ukraine’s legislative prohibition on direct talks with the Russian head of state.

“The topic is complicated, we need to discuss draft memoranda. There is a lot of work to be done before the meetings at the highest level,” Peskov added, underscoring the complexity and preparatory nature of any potential summit between the two leaders.

His comments were in response to growing speculation about whether a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin could be arranged should the Ukrainian side reverse its existing legal restrictions.

Ukraine’s parliament adopted a decree in 2022 barring any negotiations with Putin following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move reflected Kyiv’s position that dialogue with Moscow could only resume under different leadership or after significant shifts in the Kremlin’s stance on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

While Zelensky has previously said that peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, his government has remained firm in its conditions for engagement, which include the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territories.

President Zelenskyy announced that preparations are underway for a new round of negotiations with Russia, potentially to be held in Istanbul.

The Ukrainian side has outlined three key issues it intends to place at the centre of the proposed talks, according to statements made during a meeting with Ukrainian ambassadors.

By Vafa Guliyeva