After Donald Trump called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine, the Kremlin said Russia is “ready to negotiate”
Moscow: The Kremlin said that Russia is “open to negotiations” and welcomed peace efforts, especially those started by Global South countries and BRICS allies, after US President-elect Donald Trump’s request for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine.
“We have carefully read the statement by US President-elect Donald Trump, made after his meeting with Macron and Zelensky in Paris,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated in a post on X on Monday, quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia appreciates peace proposals and is willing to negotiate on Ukraine. President Putin outlined the requirements needed to stop the fighting.
Notably, Trump visited French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on December 7th to attend the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, which suffered significant damage in the tragic 2019 fire.
“There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform after the meeting. Too many families are being destroyed, and too many lives are being spent unnecessarily.
The Kremlin statement also emphasized that President Putin welcomed peace initiatives, “primarily those coming from countries of the Global South, as well as our BRICS partners, including China, Brazil, and South Africa, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which are engaged in work on the humanitarian track,” and that Russia was open to negotiations on Ukraine.
Peskov also emphasized Ukraine’s “rejection” of talks, charging that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had used a decree to obstruct communication with Moscow.
“We are fully aware of our position on Ukraine. In a speech at Russia’s Foreign Ministry in June of this year, President Putin outlined the requirements necessary to promptly end the hostilities,” the statement stated.
“What bears reminding here is that Ukraine rejected negotiations and continues to reject them,” it said. Furthermore, Zelensky has prohibited himself and his presidential office from interacting with the Russian government by his own proclamation. They continue to hold this specific position. However, Zelensky just has to cancel this decision and issue an order to continue conversation based on the agreements reached in Istanbul and taking into consideration the realities that are developing on the ground in order to start along a path toward peace.”
Notably, Russia’s massive military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 turned the Russia-Ukraine conflict—which had started in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea—into a full-fledged war.
