Encouraging talk of peace
Russia has responded favourably to comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on possible negotiations to end the ongoing war between the two countries.
“This is better than statements that any contacts with the Russian side and with the Russian head of state are excluded,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow.
“Of course talking in one tone or another about dialogue is much better than talking about the intention to fight to the last Ukrainian.”
In an interview with the BBC, Zelenskyy said earlier that he could also talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin although he had previously excluded this possibility by decree.
In the interview, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his willingness in principle to negotiate with Russian representatives at a peace summit.
“And whether it will be Putin or not makes no difference,” he said.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia’s all-out invasion since February 2022.
In response to Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk in the autumn of 2022, Zelenskyy issued a decree that Ukraine would not hold peace talks with Russia while Putin was President.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will travel to China for a three-day trip starting today, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Kuleba’s visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the ministry said.
The chief topic of the talks will be ending Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and China’s role in achieving an enduring and just peace, it said. The Kremlin reacted cautiously. Ukraine has repeatedly tried to get China on its side despite the “no limits” partnership declared by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin in February 2022. — AAP