Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday it was too early to talk about a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as peace talks had not made any progress.
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“In order to discuss a possible meeting between the two presidents, you must first do your homework. That means you have to conduct the negotiations and agree on the results,” Peskov said at a daily press conference.
“No significant progress has been made so far (in the negotiation process)… Presidents simply don’t have to approve any deals just yet,” he said.
“Progress in the negotiations is probably not as desired, nor as required by the dynamics of the development of the situation for the Ukrainian side,” the spokesman for the Russian Council Presidency said in his daily press conference call.
At the same time, he stressed that the Presidents’ meeting would not be possible until the preparatory work had been completed and an agreement had been reached.
Moscow thanks all countries offering mediation in the negotiations with Kyiv, but it is important not only to choose a place for a meeting, but also to make Ukraine more cooperative, he said.
“Actually, someone who can do this should use his influence to make Kyiv more cooperative and constructive in these talks,” said the presidential press secretary.
“The choice of venue for a hypothetical meeting is secondary, although of course we thank all the countries that have expressed their willingness to cooperate in this negotiation process,” he said.
At the same time, he pointed out that Russia is not considering establishing a ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations, since these pauses are being used by “nationalist formations” in Ukraine to “regroup and continue attacks on Russian troops”.
The spokesman’s statements came as both parties resumed a round of talks via video conference this Monday and attended by senior officials from both countries;
Facetoface talks were previously held in Belarus, but no progress was made towards ending fighting in Ukraine or permanent agreements to open humanitarian corridors.