Russia on Wednesday opposed the idea of deploying European peacekeepers to Ukraine and played down the prospect of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, another blow to the chances of a peace deal.
US President Donald Trump recently met with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in his bid to end the conflict that has raged for more than three and a half years.
Russia, however, has shown little sign of being willing to compromise.
Ukraine is pushing for Western-backed security guarantees as part of any deal to ensure Russia does not attack again, while Moscow is demanding that Kiev cede more territory in the east.
Asked how the Kremlin would view any possible European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:
– We view such talks negatively.
He said Russia considered “this very movement of NATO military infrastructure into Ukraine” one of the “root causes” of launching a full-scale offensive in February 2022.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, which has devastated parts of the country and forced millions to flee their homes.
Security guarantees for Ukraine are “one of the most important topics” in negotiations for a solution, Peskov said, adding that Moscow would not publicly discuss the details of what that might look like.
Zelensky had previously accused Russia, which has rejected several calls for an immediate ceasefire, of not being serious about seeking peace.
“The Russians are currently sending negative signals regarding the meetings and further developments. Attacks on our cities and villages continue,” he said in a post on social media.
Kiev is holding talks with its key backers in an effort to solidify what any security guarantees might look like, AFP reports.
