Russia does not want a negotiation process with Ukraine, as it continues an aggressive war and is gradually annexing Kherson and Zaporizhia Regions.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, mentioned this during a briefing with a colleague from Northern Macedonia.
"If Russia wanted to negotiate, it would not conduct offensive operations, would not try to persecute Ukrainian activists in the south and east, would not try to introduce rubles, Russian phone numbers, would not issue passports, would not block Ukrainian ports. It is a fact. Russian officials may continue telling the media that they are open to negotiations but this is false information, "the Minister said.
He advised to take a view of the facts to realize that none of them indicated Russia's willingness to find a solution. Mr. Kuleba added that the Ukrainian Party tried to arrange a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin, but there was no positive indicator of Russia's readiness.
"President Putin is more interested in war than in negotiating. Therefore, it is difficult for me to say when this meeting may take place," he added.
To remind, the President of Ukraine pointed out that he was ready to hold direct negotiations with Putin. He added that if these negotiations fail, it would be the beginning of World War III. The negotiations with Putin should take place without mediators and the only issue will be the end of the war.
Negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the occupier have stopped. The last face-to-face meeting was on March 29 in Istanbul. On May 17, Mykhailo Podoliak, a member of the negotiating team, an adviser to the Head of the President's Office, confirmed the suspension of negotiations.
The negotiations are over because Russia's military and political leadership is still stereotypical and ignores the changes in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.