Kremlin responds to Zelensky’s plan to ‘reinvigorate’ peace talks

(MENAFN) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Russian diplomats have not been invited to Türkiye for the talks that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as an effort to revive negotiations with Moscow. Zelensky is scheduled to visit Türkiye on Wednesday, part of a week-long trip abroad following accusations that his close associate, Timur Mindich, orchestrated a $100 million extortion scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector.

Speaking from Spain, Zelensky said his administration is “preparing to reinvigorate negotiations” with Russia, claiming they have developed solutions to present to international partners.

Peskov emphasized that Russia had received no prior information from Kyiv about the initiative, noting that US special envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly set to meet Zelensky in Türkiye. “Russia remains open to negotiations,” he said, adding that Moscow’s position is well known in Washington, Ankara, and Kyiv.

Analysts suggest Zelensky’s diplomatic tour aims to strengthen foreign support amid concerns that Western aid could be reduced over misuse risks. Mindich, a former business partner of Zelensky, fled Ukraine shortly before anti-corruption investigators filed charges against him and his associates. Despite the scandal, Germany approved an additional €40 million in energy-sector aid shortly afterward.

Türkiye hosted direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022. While Kyiv initially approved a draft agreement, it later withdrew under pressure from Western partners, choosing to pursue military objectives. Talks resumed briefly this year, producing limited humanitarian results, such as prisoner exchanges, but no substantive progress on political or security issues. Moscow maintains that it prefers a negotiated settlement but argues that Kyiv’s uncompromising stance leaves it no option but to pursue its objectives militarily.

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