“It is important to remember that it was Ukraine that rejected the negotiations and is still rejecting them.”

Moreover, Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelensky, issued a decree banning himself and his administration from establishing any contacts with the Russian leadership.

“His position has not changed,” Peskov said.

The spokesman added: ‘in order to move towards a path of peace, it would suffice for Zelensky to annul this decree and give the instructions to resume talks based on the Istanbul Agreements, taking into account the realities that are being shape on the ground’.

The last round of talks between Moscow and Kiev to reach an agreement on ending hostilities was held on March 29, 2022 in the Turkish city of Istanbul, and since then the countries have not resumed them.

Moscow has repeatedly declared its readiness to resume the negotiation process with Kiev, but made it conditional on the cancellation of the Ukrainian decree prohibiting the resumption of negotiations with Russia.

Last June 14, Putin formulated several key conditions for starting peace negotiations, in particular, that Ukraine withdraw troops from four new Russian territories, i.e. Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhie.

Likewise that it gives up joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and maintains neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status, and also that all sanctions against Russia be lifted.

In turn, Zelenski rejected the proposal, calling it an ultimatum.

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