Russian President Vladimir Putin can discuss with the head of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky only the problems of bilateral relations, and not the conflict in Donbass. This was announced on Tuesday, April 27, by the press secretary of the Russian leader Dmitry Peskov.
“The President absolutely clearly stated his attitude to the initiative to talk. Such a dialogue can only concern the problems of bilateral relations. That is, this dialogue cannot be carried out on the basis of the goals of seeking a settlement in the south-east of Ukraine, ”Peskov said.
According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow is convinced that the only right step for resolving the conflict in Donbass can be the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk agreements, as well as the establishment of a direct dialogue with the leadership of the self-proclaimed republics.
“Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that we are interested in establishing and continuing good relations with all countries, and especially with our neighbors,” the Kremlin official concluded.
On the eve, Zelensky said that everything is going to the point that a meeting with the President of Russia will take place. According to the President of Ukraine, it does not matter to him exactly where he meets with Putin, but “the essence of the meeting is important, and where it will be, these are the details.”
At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was premature to talk about the details of a possible meeting between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart.
Last week, Zelenskiy, in a video message, also offered to meet with Putin “anywhere” in Donbass. According to him, the different views of Kiev and Moscow on the past and the future can be viewed not as a problem, but as an opportunity.
Putin responded to Zelensky’s proposal, clarifying that if Kiev wants to restore relations, Moscow will only welcome it. The Russian leader also said that in order to develop Russian-Ukrainian relations, the Russian Federation will receive Zelensky in Moscow at any time convenient for him.
The leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik also announced their readiness to meet with the President of Ukraine at any point along the contact line in Donbass. In Kiev, the proposal to negotiate with representatives of the republics was rejected.
Since 2014, Kiev has been conducting a military operation against the residents of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities blame Russia for the current situation. Moscow has repeatedly noted that it is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict.