Reject President Zelensky's Call To Attract Troops, The Kremlin Calls Ukraine Must Accept Reality

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Yellowmen

JAKARTA - Russia rejected a peace proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky involving Tuesday's withdrawal of Russian troops, saying Kyiv needed to accept a new territorial "trial".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reality included Russia's addition to four Ukrainian territories as a "new subject", an annexation proclaimed in September, but most countries in the United Nations condemned it as an illegal act.

He responded to President Zelensky's request to leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) forces on Monday for more military equipment, support for financial and energy stability, as well as support for a peace solution that will begin with the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, starting this Christmas.

"These are three steps towards a continuation of hostilities," Peskov said.

"The Ukrainian side needs to consider the realities that have developed so far," he added when asked about the proposed withdrawal of Russian troops.

"And this reality shows that new subjects have emerged in the Russian Federation. They emerge as a result of the referendum that is taking place in this region. Without considering this new reality, no progress is possible," he explained.

Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected a fake "referendum" called Peskov in Russia's four partially occupied southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, saying it was carried out at gunpoint.

Since the annexation, Russia has lost a significant foothold in southern and eastern Ukraine, more often talking about its willingness to hold peace talks. But it is said that it does not see Ukraine and the West, supplying weapons to Kyiv, ready to negotiate.

Moscow has rejected accusations its diplomatic talks were an attempt to buy time to allow its depleted troops to reunite after nearly 10 months of war and a series of defeats and recoil.

Ukraine said Russia should stop its attacks and withdraw from all areas it has occupied, with President Zelensky urging G7 leaders on Monday to support its idea of holding a special Global Peace Summit.

The summit will focus on implementing Kyiv's 10-point peace plan which emphasizes, among other things, the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine and no territorial concession on Kyiv's side.

"It doesn't matter what the aggressors want to do, when the world really unites, then it's the world, it's not the aggressors who determine how events develop," President Zelensky said in his evening video address on Monday.