Zakharova: Washington’s call for Moscow to join peace talks “DETACHED FROM REALITY”

05/02/2024 / By Richard Brown

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), has dubbed Washington’s call for Moscow to join peace talks as something “detached from reality.”

She made this remark on April 29, saying American politicians “live in a wonderland.” Zakharova pointed to Moscow’s respect for international law in promoting the now-defunct Minsk Agreements. The agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 in the Belarusian capital sought to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict by granting special status to the Donetsk and Luhansk republics in western Ukraine.

The MFA spokeswoman asserted that Kyiv and its Western allies never intended to implement the agreements. She added that former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande had admitted to using the agreements to buy time to strengthen Ukraine’s military.

Zakharova also highlighted Moscow’s willingness to engage in peace talks in 2022, during the early months of the Russia-Ukraine war. While the talks held in the Turkish city of Istanbul initially showed progress, they later collapsed due to the alleged meddling of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The British leader purportedly advised Kyiv to continue fighting. (Related: Boris Johnson has meltdown after being exposed for sabotaging Ukraine peace deal.)

The spokeswoman’s remarks followed comments by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would recognize Western support for Ukraine. He added that Moscow’s purported plans to dismantle Ukraine had failed. Moreover, Blinken urged the Russian leader to engage in sincere negotiations in line with international principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

But according to Russia Today, Blinken’s proposal is based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace formula. Moscow subsequently rejected the clauses it deemed unacceptable, which include the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

Zakharova ultimately criticized the White House’s approach, noting that everything seemed to be in disarray. “Everything has gone haywire in the White House,” she said.

Putin still open for peace talks, but on Russia’s terms

While Moscow remains open to negotiations, a decree by Zelensky in the fall of 2022 prohibits talks with the current leadership in Moscow. The edict followed the decision of four former Ukrainian regions to join Russia.

Back in March, Putin sat down for an interview where he reiterated his stance on negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite calls from pro-diplomacy voices in the West, Putin made it clear that he was not yet prepared to engage in negotiations due to Kyiv’s uncertain battlefield prospects.

According to reports, Putin emphasized that Russia could secure further advances by continuing the war, indicating a reluctance to negotiate at this time. But a closer look at Putin’s full statement reveals a more nuanced perspective.

“For us to hold negotiations now just because they are running out of ammunition would be ridiculous,” he said at the time. “Nevertheless, we are open to a serious discussion, and we are eager to resolve all conflicts, especially this one, by peaceful means.”

This suggests that while Putin acknowledges the current situation, he remains open to dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Despite this, he emphasized more stringent conditions for peace talks adopted last year. This includes Russia’s refusal to give up the four regions it officially annexed in September 2022.

Putin made it clear that any negotiations must be based on the realities on the ground, rather than wishful thinking or unrealistic expectations. However, some media outlets and commentators have seized on selective quotes from Putin’s interview, portraying his remarks as a rejection of negotiations altogether. This has led to misinterpretations and misrepresentations of Putin’s position, fueling speculation and misinformation about the prospects for peace in Ukraine.

While challenges remain, Putin’s indication of openness to negotiations provides a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Watch this video of Russian forces liberating the village of Novomihailovka after expelling Ukrainian troops.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.