The Kremlin is seeking “clarifications” after Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, suggested that Kyiv was ready to consider entering talks with Russia.
“But first, we need to understand how prepared [for talks] Ukraine is and whether it has permission for that from its handlers,” Mr. Peskov said, in a possible reference to Kyiv’s Western allies.
“Contradictory statements are being made, and things are not quite clear.”
On July 24, Mr. Kuleba appeared to signal Kyiv’s willingness—under certain conditions—to negotiate with Moscow.
Mr. Kuleba made the remarks at a meeting with Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s top diplomat.
He added, however, that “no such readiness [for talks] is currently observed on the Russian side.”
In 2022, Russia invaded—and effectively annexed—large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, drawing condemnation from most Western capitals.
Mr. Kuleba is the highest-ranking Ukrainian official to visit China—now seen as a key Russian ally—since Moscow launched its invasion two and a half years ago.
In a video address released after his meeting in Beijing, Mr. Kuleba laid down Kyiv’s terms for entering peace talks.
“First, no agreements about Ukraine without Ukraine,” he said.
“Second ... full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“If these two principles are adhered to, we can engage in any discussions and seek any solutions.”
According to Chinese state media, Mr. Kuleba told Mr. Yi that Kyiv was willing to negotiate with Moscow as long as talks were “rational and substantive and aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace.”
“However, details are important here, and we don’t know them yet,” he added. “So let’s wait for some clarifications that will apparently follow.”
Asked about the exchange, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Kyiv has “always been ready for negotiations to reach a just and lasting peace.”
He added, however, that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has shown no change to his war aims and has shown no real willingness for negotiation.”
Positions of Strength
In late 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree effectively banning officials in Kyiv from communicating with Russia—in any capacity—as long as Mr. Putin remains in power.But in light of continued Russian gains on the battlefield, Kyiv has appeared increasingly open in recent weeks to the possibility of entering talks.
In mid-June, Switzerland hosted an international summit—at Kyiv’s request—with the stated aim of exploring prospects for peace.
Although representatives from 90 countries attended the event, Russian officials were not invited.
Moscow responded by laying down its own terms for ending the conflict.
These include the full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson) effectively annexed by Russia in 2022.
Under the Russian proposal, Kyiv would also be expected to drop its ongoing bid to join NATO and commit to a permanent state of neutrality.
Kyiv, backed by its powerful Western allies, was quick to reject the Russian terms.
Until now, Kyiv has ruled out negotiations with Russia until the latter withdraws from all Ukrainian territory.
This includes the Black Sea region of Crimea, which Russia effectively annexed in 2014.
“We’re not ready to compromise on important values ... independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty,” Andriy Yermak, an aide to Mr. Zelenskyy, said in early July.
Nevertheless, Mr. Zelenskyy recently called for a second international summit to be held later this year—this time with the participation of Russia.
‘Legitimate’ Leadership
Asked about the short-term prospects for peace talks, Mr. Peskov questioned the political legitimacy of Mr. Zelenskyy, whose presidential term expired in May.“But from a practical stance, we are open to achieving our goals by means of negotiations.”
Presidential elections in Ukraine were initially slated for March 31.
But late last year, Mr. Zelenskyy announced that elections—for both parliament and the presidency—would be suspended as long as the country remained under martial law.
Kyiv first imposed martial law in early 2022 in the immediate wake of Russia’s invasion.
Since then, it has been extended—repeatedly—by Ukraine’s parliament, where Mr. Zelenskyy’s party enjoys a majority.
Mr. Putin has said that the issue of Mr. Zelenskyy’s legitimacy—or lack thereof—could affect the eventual signing of a Russia–Ukraine peace treaty.
“If it gets to that point, we will need to understand who we should deal with when signing legally binding documents,” he said in late May.
Mr. Zelenskyy has insisted that his presidential legitimacy is “recognized by the people of Ukraine.”
“Our people are free,” he told reporters in June, going on to assert that Mr. Putin’s own political legitimacy was recognized “only by comrade Putin.”
Kyiv’s chief Western backers, meanwhile, have voiced understanding for Mr. Zelenskyy’s predicament.
“But we recognize that it’s a difficult thing to conduct in the middle of a war. Ultimately, these are questions for the Ukrainian people to decide.”
