Kremlin claims Ukrain stopped peace talks on US directive

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine left the peace negotiations with Moscow in March on "instruction" from the US, the Kremlin reported on Thursday.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, told reporters that "the text was ready, and then suddenly the Ukrainian side went off the radar, the Ukrainian side declared its unwillingness to continue negotiations," adding that Putin thought it "obvious" that the decision to halt negotiations "occurred on an order from Washington."

Umaro Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, who is currently in charge of ECOWAS, stated on Wednesday in Kyiv that Putin, whom he had previously seen, had "expressed the view that he is ready for conversations" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Asked about these remarks, Peskov said “We are ready to ensure our interests at the negotiating table

“We want this, but in this case, we are talking about a complete unwillingness on the part of Ukraine,” he said, adding that there was “no specific message” for Kyiv.

Zelensky swiftly ruled out any chance of discussions with Moscow on Wednesday, criticising Putin's "calculated rhetoric."

The leader of Ukraine declared in late September that he would not engage in negotiations with Russia as long as Putin was in office.

Since March, negotiations between Kiev and Moscow have been at a standstill, with each side blaming the other for the impasse.

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