(Dan Tri) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that there is no basis for conducting negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at the present time.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Photo: Tass).

`So far, at this moment, there is no basis for negotiations because everyone knows clearly Ukraine’s position that they refuse any form of negotiations. So, the special military operation

Mr. Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position on negotiations with Ukraine `has been clearly stated`.

`The last time the president mentioned this issue was in a conversation with President (Belarus Alexander) Lukashenko,` Mr. Peskov noted.

He also reiterated that `Russia’s position is consistent`, when responding to a question about whether the draft Istanbul agreement could serve as a basis for negotiations with Kiev.

In an interview with the program `Moscow. Kremlin. Putin`, scheduled to be broadcast on April 28, the Kremlin spokesman said the fate of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been decided.

During a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on April 11, President Putin reiterated that Russia does not deny finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, explaining that that `is exactly what we do.`

Referring to Switzerland’s plan to organize an international conference in June on peace in Ukraine, Mr. Putin noted that Russia had not been invited.

The Russian leader recalled that during the talks in Istanbul in March 2022, the Ukrainian delegation initially agreed to some of Russia’s terms.

`We were told that Ukraine could not sign the document and we had to withdraw our troops from Kiev. So we did,` the Russian president said.

According to Putin, Ukraine has now realized that it cannot defeat Russia on the battlefield, but by refusing to negotiate, Kiev has pushed itself into a corner.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law in 2022 declaring peace negotiations with Russia impossible as long as President Vladimir Putin remains in power.

Russia has repeatedly affirmed its readiness in principle to participate in peace negotiations with Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is willing to participate in negotiations but must be based on `new realities`, in other words, Ukraine must acknowledge the territories annexed to Russia.