On Monday, Russia responded positively to US President-elect Donald Trump’s call for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine, stating that it is “open to negotiations” and welcomes peace initiatives. This came after Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron on November 7 in Paris, where he urged for a ceasefire, saying too many lives were being lost in the conflict.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, emphasizing that Russia is ready for negotiations. The Kremlin welcomed peace efforts, particularly from countries of the Global South, as well as BRICS nations like China, Brazil, and South Africa. However, Peskov criticized Ukraine’s rejection of talks, accusing President Zelensky of blocking negotiations through a decree. He reiterated that Ukraine had refused to negotiate since the conflict began, and the path to peace would require Zelensky to revoke this decree and resume dialogue based on prior arrangements made in Istanbul.
Although Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to end the war, direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine has not materialized. The conflict, which started with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, escalated into a full-scale war in February 2022 when Moscow invaded Ukraine.
