The Kremlin has announced its willingness to talk: "Putin was, is and will remain open to contacts and negotiations," says spokesman Peskov. However, according to him, the US refusal to recognize the annexed areas as Russian territory "complicates" a compromise.
According to his spokesman, Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to talks with US President Joe Biden on a settlement for Ukraine. However, the US refusal to recognize the annexed areas in southern and eastern Ukraine as Russian territory is hampering the search for a compromise, Presidential Office spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press. According to Peskow, Washington's position "complicates" possible talks.
During a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Washington, Biden said he was in principle ready to talk to Putin - but only if he seriously wanted to "end the war". As a condition, Biden initially named a withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
Peskov said: "The President of the Russian Federation was, is and always will be open to negotiations to protect our interests." The best way to assert Russia's interests is through peaceful, diplomatic means. "Putin was, is and will remain open to contacts and negotiations."
At the same time, he rejected Biden's conditions that negotiations would only be possible "after Putin has left Ukraine". Moscow is "certainly" not prepared to accept this condition. "The special military operation is ongoing," Peskov said, using the official Russian name for the war in Ukraine that has been raging for more than nine months.
In Washington, Macron called negotiations with the Kremlin boss "still possible". In an interview with the US broadcaster ABC, however, he said at the same time that peace in Ukraine must be sustainable. "A good peace is not a peace that is forced on the Ukrainians," said Macron. A good peace is not one that is not accepted by either party in the medium or long term.
