If Zelenskyy is "ready to speak", he can come to Moscow: Kremlin on settling Ukraine conflict
Moscow, June 16
The Kremlin on Tuesday said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could travel to Moscow for talks if he is prepared for "responsible and serious" discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, while noting that no official communication channels currently exist between the two sides.
The remarks were made by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during a media briefing, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Speaking on the prospects of negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, Peskov said there are presently no formal mechanisms for dialogue between the two countries.
"There are no official channels for communication between Moscow and Kyiv," he said, as quoted by TASS.
However, Peskov indicated that Russia remains open to direct engagement with Zelenskyy under certain conditions.
"Zelensky, you know that Putin has actually said everything, everything was offered. It was said and repeated several times that if Zelensky is ready to speak responsibly and seriously, the Kyiv regime knows perfectly well what he is talking about, then he can always come to Moscow, where he will be received," Peskov said as quoted by TASS.
The Kremlin spokesperson also addressed the expected visit of US emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Russia for talks on settling the Ukraine conflict, stating that no fixed timeline has been finalised.
"There are no exact dates for the visit of American emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Russia yet," Peskov said, as quoted by TASS.
"The American negotiators will arrive soon, but there are no exact dates yet. As you know, the Americans are busy preparing and signing the memorandum that has been agreed upon. We know that the signing is scheduled for Switzerland at the end of this week. After that, they will probably be able to travel to Moscow," he added.
Commenting on the ongoing G7 Summit in France, Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had not been invited to attend the gathering.
"There was no invitation, of course," he said.
The remarks come amid continued diplomatic efforts by multiple countries to explore pathways towards de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and broader regional stability.
— ANI
Reader Comments
India has always believed in dialogue and diplomacy. But inviting Zelenskyy to Moscow is like asking someone to come to your house when you're still holding the stick. Russia needs to show genuine willingness for peace, not just PR gestures. 🇮🇳
For India, this is a tough spot. We have historic ties with Russia but also growing relations with West. Best option? Stay neutral, push for ceasefire, and let both sides cool down. War fatigue is real and ordinary people are suffering. 🕊️
Russia is playing mind games again. "Come to Moscow if you're serious" - that's not negotiation, that's submission. India should use its G20 presidency to bring real peace talks to a neutral venue like New Delhi.
I appreciate India's balanced approach in all this mess. We condemn war but don't pick sides blindly. Let's hope the G7 and other forums actually produce something concrete rather than just photo-ops. 🙏
Russia saying "no official channels" but then inviting Zelenskyy to Moscow is contradictory. Either there's a channel or there isn't. For India, we've seen how border tensions work - you need mutual respect, not one-sided invitations.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.