Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's declare that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is illegitimate on Feb. 5 however mentioned Moscow stays open to negotiations.
Peskov's feedback comply with Zelensky's assertion in an interview with U.Okay. journalist Piers Morgan that he was prepared to take a seat on the negotiating desk with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it was the one solution to finish the battle.
"Mr. Zelensky has massive issues de jure by way of his legitimacy, besides, the Russian facet stays open to negotiations," Peskov claimed. The spokesperson additionally known as Zelensky's current feedback on negotiations "empty phrases," including that they have to be primarily based on an precise "readiness and want."
Russia has extensively used the declare of Zelensky's alleged illegitimacy as a part of its propaganda marketing campaign to discredit Ukraine's authorities, arguing that Zelensky has served previous his five-year time period with out holding new elections.
Ukrainian authorized specialists and officers have dismissed the narrative as false and unfounded, pointing to the truth that Ukraine's structure doesn’t allow elections below martial legislation and that a good portion of the Ukrainian inhabitants is below occupation and, subsequently, can not vote.
The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
Putin beforehand claimed that Zelensky had no proper to signal any peace agreements, referencing the Ukrainian president's decree on Sept. 30, 2022, which banned negotiations with the Russian chief in response to Moscow's annexation of 4 Ukrainian areas.
Zelensky clarified on Jan. 26 that the decree solely utilized to different Ukrainian officers, not himself.
The dialogue of potential negotiations comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, pledging to dealer a swift settlement within the subsequent few months.
Zelensky, whereas saying that Ukraine was prepared to finish the "sizzling stage" of the battle, advised that if NATO membership shouldn’t be an choice, the U.S. ought to present Ukraine with various safety ensures, together with nuclear weapons, to stop renewed Russian aggression.
"On the whole, such statements, such utterances, border on madness," Peskov mentioned in response to Zelensky's remarks.
Russia has repeatedly issued nuclear threats towards Ukraine and the West since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022.
In November 2024, Putin authorized updates to Russia's nuclear deterrence coverage, outlining situations below which Moscow may justify a nuclear strike, together with aggression towards Russia and its allies by a non-nuclear state with the help of a nuclear state.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy