Moscow still awaits Kiev proposals on possible Putin-Zelensky meeting – Russian politics and diplomacy

MOSCOW, April 30 / TASS /. Moscow has not received proposals from Kiev to hold a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

The Kremlin is waiting for specific initiatives to be submitted at the official or operational level, he said. “Probably, at least at the operational or official level, we should receive and be informed about some particular proposals,” Peskov said.

“There has been nothing so far – neither on the agenda nor anywhere,” he noted.

The Kremlin spokesman suggested that the Ukrainian leader “was probably making decisions himself and formulating them quickly.” “But still, we also have certain procedures, a specific process for presenting positions on key and current issues. And it is certainly very difficult to deal with this process at the same time,” he noted. Therefore, it was decided to share ideas in advance and hold discussions after formulating these positions. In its own words, Moscow “awaits special proposals”.

Peskov also confirmed that this contact should be established between the deputy chief of the Russian presidential staff Dmitry Kozak and the chief of staff of Zelensky Andrei Yermak. “You and I remember President Zelensky’s words that he would order his office to contact the Russian presidential administration. This contact is between Yermak and Kozak,” he said.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said earlier in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica that Vatican City could be “an ideal place for dialogue [with Russian President Vladimir Putin] about peace in the Donbass. “The Holy See and Pope Francis are ready to facilitate the work for a Ukrainian settlement, and possible mediation assistance could be provided within the framework of the Minsk Group, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, says La Repubblica.

Commenting on how the Kremlin viewed this mediation and whether there were any details about the meeting, Peskov replied that he could not share any particular data about it.