The Kremlin signaled Wednesday that it welcomes the possibility of U.S.-mediated peace talks with Ukraine but insisted that legal barriers imposed by Kyiv still stand in the way of negotiations.
President Donald Trump told Congress on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed willingness to negotiate an end to the ongoing war. Trump also claimed he had received “strong signals” from Russia indicating its readiness for peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the development as a “positive” step but cautioned that unresolved issues remain.
“The question is who to negotiate with?” Peskov said, citing a 2022 decree in which Zelensky formally ruled out talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The general approach is positive, but the nuances have not yet changed.”
Moscow has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Zelensky’s presidency, arguing that his term expired in May 2024. Under Ukrainian law, elections cannot be held during martial law, which has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Peskov’s remarks suggest that Russia may use Zelensky’s status as a point of contention in any future negotiations, potentially complicating diplomatic efforts.
Since taking office in January, Trump has pledged to quickly end the war and reset relations with Russia. His administration’s decision to pause military aid to Ukraine has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. allies, but Peskov praised the move as a step toward negotiations.
“The U.S. military aid freeze is a solution that could really push the Kyiv regime toward a peace process,” Peskov said.
Despite the diplomatic overtures, no formal plans for U.S.-mediated negotiations have been announced, and both sides remain entrenched in their positions as the war enters its third year.
