Russia Calls Zelensky’s Peace Talk Offer a ‘Positive’ Step but Questions Feasibility

Russia has welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer for peace talks, calling it a “positive” move. However, the Kremlin raised doubts about the practicality of such negotiations, citing legal barriers imposed by Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Mr. Zelensky had signed a decree in 2022 legally barring negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “So, in general, the approach is positive, but the nuances have not yet changed. For the time being, there’s still a legal ban on the president of Ukraine negotiating with the Russian side,” Mr. Peskov stated.

Mr. Zelensky’s statement on his willingness to negotiate under U.S. President Donald Trump’s “strong leadership” came just days after a heated Oval Office meeting between the two leaders. During that exchange, Mr. Zelensky reportedly called Mr. Putin a “killer and terrorist,” leading to tensions with Mr. Trump, who then paused U.S. military aid to Ukraine as a pressure tactic to push for a swift resolution to the war.

In addition, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko offered to host peace talks in Minsk, with Mr. Peskov calling it “the best place due to Belarus being Russia’s most important ally.” However, Ukraine considers Belarus a participant in the conflict due to its role in facilitating Russian military actions, making the proposal unlikely to gain traction.