Russia 'Open To Negotiation On Ukraine' After Trump's Call For Ceasefire, Blames Zelenskyy For Blocking Dialogue

Following the call from US President-elect Donald Trump for an "immediate ceasefire" in Ukraine, the Kremlin responded by stating that Russia is "open to negotiations".

"Russia is open to negotiations on Ukraine and welcomes peace initiatives. The conditions required to cease the hostilities were laid out by President (Vladimir) Putin," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

The post detailed that they had meticulously reviewed the statement made by the incoming US President Donald Trump, following his meeting with French and Ukrainian counterparts Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy respectively.

Significantly, on 7 December, Trump had a meeting with Zelenskyy and Macron in Paris, coinciding with the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral that had suffered extensive damage from the catastrophic fire in 2019.

The Kremlin's announcement emphasised that President Putin has consistently expressed Russia's willingness to engage in talks about Ukraine, welcoming peace efforts.

These are particularly appreciated when they originate from the Global South countries and BRICS partners, such as China, Brazil, South Africa, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, who are actively involved in humanitarian efforts.

Peskov accused Ukraine of rejecting negotiations and Zelenskyy of blocking dialogue with Moscow through a 'decree'. "The conditions required to cease the hostilities immediately were laid out by President Putin in June this year in his speech at Russia's Foreign Ministry," the statement said.

It's worth noting that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started in 2014 with Russia's annexation of Crimea, turned into a full-blown war in February 2022 when Russia initiated a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine.