Moscow: The Kremlin responded cautiously on Tuesday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s apparent invitation to a future peace summit, indicating that Russia needs clarity on Kyiv’s intentions before committing to talks.
In an interview with Zvezda television channel, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, “The first peace summit was not a peace summit at all. So perhaps it is necessary to first understand what he means,” in response to Zelenskyy’s recent statements.
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Zelenskyy’s openness to including Russia in future talks marks a shift from earlier rhetoric, notably ahead of the Switzerland summit in June, where he had firmly opposed Moscow’s participation.
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The surprise development comes amid Ukraine’s challenges on the front lines and impending US presidential elections, which could reshape the geopolitical dynamics of the conflict.
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Over 90 countries convened in Switzerland on June 15 for a summit aimed at resolving Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, with notable absences including China and Russia. The Kremlin criticized the summit, labeling discussions without Russia as “absurd”.
