Russia Opens Up To Negotiations With Ukraine, But Questions Zelenskiy's Position Legitimization

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskovmen Sergey Bulkin/TASS

JAKARTA - The Kremlin has signaled that it is open to negotiating with Ukraine on how to end the conflict.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv was ready to hold talks with Russia as long as Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully respected. But he said Ukraine had not seen any signs of it.

The Kremlin, although hinting at its readiness to negotiate with its own terms, publicly questioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's mandate to rule by stating his five-year term has ended in May and Ukraine should hold a general election.

Zelenskiy and Western countries say it is necessary to suspend normal political regulations at wartime and that the Kremlin, given Russia's strictly controlled political system, is not in a position to criticize.

Asked if Russia was ready to hold talks with Ukraine during Zelenskiy's tenure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "Russia is generally open to the negotiation process. But first we have to understand how ready the Ukrainian side is for this and how much the Ukrainian side has got permission from those who handle it," he said.

Moscow describes Zelenskiy as a US doll, a characterization Zelenskyy denies.

"Because so far you have seen very different statements made, and they are still unclear. In addition, apart from Zelenskiy's legitimacy issues, there are also issues against the law (Ukraine) to make contact and negotiations with Ukraine. Russia. Therefore, there are still many things that need to be clarified and explanations are heard," Peskov said.

Reuters reported in May that Putin was ready to stop the war in Ukraine by negotiating a ceasefire, but the Kremlin leader was ready to continue fighting if Kiev and Western countries did not respond.

Putin in June said Russia would end the war in Ukraine, something he called a special military operation, only if Kyiv agreed to cancel NATO's ambitions and give up the entire four provinces Moscow claims, the demands Kyiv rejected would be tantamount to giving up.