At the moment, the Kremlin does not see the prospects for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky, due to the fact that Kiev's actions indicate an intention to withdraw from the Minsk agreements.

About this in the program “Moscow.

Kremlin.

Putin "said the press secretary of the Russian leader Dmitry Peskov.

He drew attention to the fact that the Ukrainian side is carrying out a draft law on the so-called transitional period, "which de facto will mean Kiev's withdrawal from the Minsk agreements."

“So far, there are no special prospects for this conversation (between the two presidents), again, due to the actions of the Ukrainian authorities.

It is the Ukrainian authorities that do not fulfill the Minsk agreements, ”Peskov emphasized.

Answering the question why the members of the Normandy Four do not all communicate together, the press secretary of the head of state noted that it is difficult for Putin to build a dialogue with Zelensky, so the president communicates separately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, and they are already talking with Ukrainian leader.

In particular, Peskov drew attention to the fact that Zelensky stubbornly calls Russia "a participant in the conflict in the southeast of the country."

"This is not true.

Putin is responsible for his words, he says what he does and does what he says.

And when this does not fit with other interlocutors, then it is very, very difficult, "- said Peskov.

He stressed that all parties to the conflict are listed in the Minsk package of measures - an official UN document. 

“Accordingly, if the president of Ukraine does not recognize the United Nations document and de facto calls into question the signature of the president of Ukraine on this document, well, how can you communicate here?” The Kremlin spokesman concluded.

He explained that in order for the Normandy format summit to have clearer prospects, the participants must "do their homework" and "prepare the foundation."

On October 12, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during negotiations with Merkel and Macron, said that at present the "Normandy format" remains the only platform for resolving the conflict in Donbass. 

He also added that he would like to hold a meeting of the leaders of the "Normandy format" in the near future.

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  • © Ian Langsdon

The Elysee Palace also said it hopes to hold a ministerial meeting of the Normandy Four in the coming weeks.

On October 11, Putin held a telephone conversation with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, during which the parties discussed "a worrying situation in connection with the stalled process of resolving the internal Ukrainian conflict."

“At the same time, the three leaders noted the importance of the implementation of the 2015 Minsk agreements as an uncontested basis for settlement.

They also emphasized their interest in further coordination of the efforts of Russia, Germany and France in the "Normandy format", the Kremlin said.

At the same time, Putin stressed that Kiev "stubbornly evades" from fulfilling both the obligations under the Minsk agreements and the agreements reached at the previous "Normandy summits".

Zelensky spoke about the possibility of holding a meeting with the Russian leader in April this year during an address to the people.

The Ukrainian president said that "every month" he was on the line of contact, after which he turned to Putin with a proposal to hold direct negotiations, and invited him to come anywhere in the Ukrainian Donbass.

Vladimir Putin, in turn, noted that Kiev took many steps destroying interstate relations, but added that Moscow welcomes attempts to restore relations between countries.

“If we are talking about the development of bilateral relations, then please, we will receive the President of Ukraine in Moscow at any time convenient for him,” Putin said.

In September, during the plenary session of EEF-2021, the president said that the situation between Moscow and Kiev was "abnormal and unnatural."

“And sooner or later, and it is better if this happens early - the sooner the better - we will fully restore our relations with Ukraine,” he said.

At the same time, Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the "Russophobic approach" still dominates in Kiev's politics.

Peskov also noted that Putin "clearly confirmed" that he is ready to meet with Zelensky, but the Russian side does not see mutual political will from Kiev.

In addition, the Kremlin stated that the issue of Crimea's ownership also cannot be a topic for discussion at the talks between Putin and Zelensky, in connection with which the preparations for the summit of the leaders of the two countries did not advance.