Russia: We Can Talk, But Ukraine Must Be on the Agenda
Russia seeks discussions with the United States but insists Ukraine must be included on the agenda, the Kremlin announced on Friday, June 21.
Conversations with the U.S. need to be comprehensive, encompassing various issues, including Ukraine, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. He emphasized that isolating individual topics from the broader context of accumulated issues is not an option for Moscow.
Peskov clarified that while Russia is open to dialogue, it must be wide-ranging and address all dimensions, including the conflict involving Ukraine and the U.S.’s direct participation in it.
The U.S. maintains that any negotiations about the war must consider Ukraine’s perspective and desires. Washington denies Russia’s assertion that by supplying arms to Ukraine, it has become a direct party in a conflict intended to deal a significant strategic blow to Moscow.
Peskov noted that the list of issues requiring discussion between Russia and the United States is expanding.
“This dialogue is essential,” he said, stressing the accumulation of problems related to global security architecture.
However, the U.S. attributes the ongoing conflict to Russia, pointing out that Russia initiated the Ukraine war and continues to be involved nearly three years later.
Additionally, this week, President Putin visited North Korea, signed a mutual defense agreement with its leader Kim Jong Un, and indicated the possibility of providing Russian weapons to North Korea in response to Western support for Ukraine.
Putin also mentioned on Thursday that he is considering revising Russia’s nuclear weapons doctrine. The last remaining arms control treaty, limiting the number of strategic nuclear warheads that Russia and the United States can deploy, is set to expire in 2026.