Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko denied on Tuesday that Moscow is involved in talks with the US over Ukraine, but admitted the Kremlin is open to talks with Kiev “without any preconditions” – except “that Ukraine shows goodwill”.
Rudenko offered a reminder that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had signed a decree in October forbidding any negotiations with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, despite Moscow repeatedly stating its willingness to resume peace talks.
“That’s their choice. We have always said we are ready for such negotiations, which had been interrupted not at our fault,” he added.