The Kremlin emphasized that the most important thing right now is to begin direct negotiations with Ukraine, rather than the issue of the legitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“There are legal questions related to legitimacy, but in this case, the interests of initiating the peace settlement process take precedence, and primarily – to start this negotiation process,” stated the spokesperson for the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov. He voiced this position in response to a question about the possibility of conducting direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side, considering Moscow’s doubts about Zelensky’s legitimacy.
According to Peskov, all other issues, including legal ones, are secondary and can be resolved later. He stressed that the main thing now is to launch the negotiation process, as this is what Russia desires.
Avoiding Zelensky’s Legitimacy
Russia intensified the issue of the legitimacy of Ukraine’s sixth president at the end of his term, which will officially conclude in 2024. The Ukrainian authorities assert that Zelensky’s powers remain valid, as it is currently impossible to organize elections due to martial law.
High-Level Negotiations Between Ukraine and Russia
On April 25, U.S. President Donald Trump called for a high-level meeting between Ukraine and Russia to discuss the possibility of reaching a peace agreement. This came after White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. It is important to note that this step aims to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the two countries, which has been ongoing for several years.