Russian side says no prerequisites for initiating peace talks have yet been met, and reiterates invitation to Zelenskyy to visit Moscow
On September 23, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov stated that current conditions do not yet permit the initiation of a peace negotiation process, while simultaneously reaffirming that if Zelenskyy is willing, he may come to Moscow for discussions.
"There are currently no prerequisites in place for launching a track of peace negotiations."
At the same time, he emphasized that the Kremlin remains "open to peace talks."
When asked whether the Kremlin was prepared to discuss the possibility of a top-level meeting between Ukraine and Russia, Peskov said, "Our position is well known. Putin has stated that if Zelenskyy wishes, he may come to Moscow. We would provide the necessary security guarantees."
The Kremlin spokesperson also stressed that Zelenskyy fully understands what decisions would be required to make such a meeting possible.
He added that the Kremlin believes it would be inappropriate to hold a top-level meeting before expert-level work is carried out, as doing so would only result in wasted time.
On September 22, during his initial meeting with Trump in New York, Zelenskyy expressed hope that Trump could help bring the war in Ukraine to an end before winter. In a press conference following the meeting, Zelenskyy stated that he is open to meeting with Putin and hopes the United States can facilitate a trilateral discussion.
Trump, in turn, indicated that he would consider invoking the Graham Act—legislation related to sanctions against Russia—if necessary. He also called on Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Upon arriving at the venue, Trump briefly answered a reporter’s question about a message for Putin, responding succinctly: "End this war!"
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877168150313024/
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