China News Service, May 23. According to Agence France-Presse, on the 22nd local time, the head of the Russian negotiating delegation, Mekinsky, said that Russia has never refused to negotiate with Ukraine.
Data map: Mekinsky, head of the Russian negotiating delegation.
According to reports, Mekinsky said that Russia is willing to resume negotiations with Ukraine, but whether to continue negotiations depends on Ukraine.
He also said that freezing the negotiations was an initiative by Ukraine, and the "ball" was on the Ukrainian side.
Earlier on the 17th, Russia and Ukraine separately stated that the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine had been suspended and no progress had been made.