The Kremlin on Tuesday gave a cautious response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's apparent invitation to a future peace summit, saying that Russia first needs to understand what Kyiv means before attending talks.
Zelensky said on Monday that Russia "should be" represented at a second summit on the Ukraine conflict, following high-level talks last month in Switzerland that Moscow did not attend.
"The first peace summit was not a peace summit at all. So perhaps it is necessary to first understand what he means," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian military's Zvezda television channel, responding to Zelensky's comments.
The Ukrainian leader's apparent welcoming of Russia to talks marked a change of tone from the first peace summit in Switzerland last month, ahead of which Zelensky categorically ruled out inviting Moscow. Both Russia and China were absent from that gathering.
The surprise comments from Kyiv come as Ukrainian forces lose ground on the front line and as the United States gears up for a presidential election that could fundamentally change Western support for Ukraine.
Leaders and top officials from more than 90 states gathered at a Swiss mountainside resort on June 15 for the two-day summit dedicated to resolving the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
The Kremlin criticized that gathering, saying any discussions for ending the war that did not include Russia were "absurd."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
