The Ukrainian presidential office believes that Russia will actually be ready to negotiate peace and withdraw its troops from Ukraine after the liberation of Donetsk or Luhansk,
an adviser to the presidential chief of staff, Mykhaylo Podolyak, has said on Twitter.
"Politically and psychologically, Russia is not yet ripe for real negotiations and withdrawal of troops. But it will happen. Immediately after the liberation of Donetsk or Luhansk," Podolyak suggested.
He also added that now support for the war "is rapidly sinking to the bottom" in Russia. Everyone "from the oligarch to the cobbler" is arriving at the conclusion that "it is time to end".
According to US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price, the statements of the Russian leadership about the alleged readiness for negotiations will remain unfounded until they are supported by real steps.
President Zelenskyy stressed that peace talks with Russia are possible only when its army leaves Ukraine.