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Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has attempted to frame Ukraine as unwilling to negotiate while revealing the Kremlin’s own reluctance to engage in good faith talks. This includes reviving false Russian narratives that portray Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as an “illegitimate” leader, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as reported by Ukrinform.
ISW analysts noted that on July 25, Peskov claimed Russia is “open to achieving its goals through negotiations” but cited obstacles such as the unfounded claim that Zelenskyy is an illegitimate president and that Ukraine has imposed a “de facto legislative ban” on negotiations with Russia. Peskov also suggested that Russia needs to assess Ukraine’s readiness and the authority of its government regarding negotiations, while accusing Ukraine of offering conflicting statements.
The ISW report highlights that Ukraine has clearly outlined its plan for lasting peace based on international law and has invited Russian representatives to its second peace summit scheduled for later in 2024. In contrast, the Kremlin has repeatedly claimed to be open to negotiations but is only interested in a settlement that demands complete Ukrainian capitulation.
The analysts emphasized that Peskov’s statements, contrary to some Western reports, do not indicate that Russia is willing to negotiate with Zelenskyy. Instead, they reflect the Kremlin’s continued promotion of the false narrative that negotiations with Zelenskyy are impossible due to his alleged illegitimacy.
The ISW also pointed out that the Kremlin has misrepresented Ukrainian laws to support its narrative. Peskov inaccurately described Ukrainian law on negotiations, as Zelenskyy’s October 2022 decree stated that negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are “impossible,” but did not ban all contact and negotiations with Russia, contrary to Peskov’s claims.
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