Kremlin Spokesperson Says Conflict in Ukraine Could End Tomorrow, If...

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Yellowmen

JAKARTA - The conflict in Ukraine could end at any time if Kyiv shows political will, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"In this case, we can speculate when all this will end until we turn blue in the face", Peskov said, commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that the conflict might end in 2023, reported by TASS on December 9.

"(President) Zelensky knows when everything can end, it can end tomorrow if (Kyiv) wants it", said the spokesman for the Russian Presidency.

Commenting on remarks by German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit that Ukraine should not limit its defense efforts to its own territory, Peskov pointed out that such statements "certainly encourage" Kyiv to carry out more attacks.

"In fact, such statements prolong this difficult period and in no way facilitate efforts to find a solution to the problem", he said.

Previously reported, Peskov said Russia agreed with the United States on peace in Ukraine, but played down any chance of negotiations until their special military operation objectives were met.

"That the result should be a just and lasting peace, people can agree with this. But as for the prospect of some kind of negotiation, we don't see it at the moment, we have said many times", he said.

Asked what had to happen for such a prospect to materialize, he said: "The goals of special military operations must be achieved. Russia must and will achieve the goals it has set."

Last Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his troops could fight in Ukraine for the long haul, but he saw no sense in extending the call-up of 300,000 reservists from September and October, after serious Russian battlefield setbacks.