MFA: negotiations with Ukraine in case of their resumption should be direct

With a possible resumption, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should take place without intermediaries. Such a statement done director of the second department of the CIS countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexei Polishchuk in an interview with TASS.

“If and when these contacts resume, they will most likely also be direct,” he said, answering a question about Moscow’s readiness for possible future negotiations to be conducted directly with the current authorities in Kyiv.

According to Polishchuk, direct negotiations would be the best option, since “Western mediators often pursue their own goals.” He explained that the West is trying to influence the course of negotiations based on its own political and economic interests.

The diplomat recalled that in February-March 2022, this process took place without intermediaries. After three rounds of the Russian-Ukrainian dialogue in Belarus and Turkey, the parties had daily direct contact via video link, he noted.

Since the beginning of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, the parties have held talks several times in February and March. The first three face-to-face meetings took place in Belarus in February-March, and the fourth round of the Russian-Ukrainian dialogue was held on March 29 in Istanbul. After that, the process was frozen, since Kyiv withdrew from it.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is open to negotiations. At the same time, Ukraine has a document preventing their resumption. October 4, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree refusing to negotiate with Russia as long as Vladimir Putin is its president.