Peskov explained what Zelensky, who announced the negotiations, will have to reckon with

Peskov on Zelensky’s words about negotiations: geopolitical reality has changed

Dmitry Peskov. Photo: Natalia Gubernatorova

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on the words of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who allowed negotiations with Moscow before Ukrainian troops reached the 1991 borders. This is Zelensky's first such statement. Before this, he invariably said that negotiations were possible only after the Armed Forces of Ukraine had recaptured all the territories.

“The geopolitical reality has changed dramatically since the beginning of the Northern Military District,” said the head of the Kremlin press service, responding to the statement Zelensky. He added that the borders of both Ukraine and the Russian Federation have changed since then and this is a new reality.

“We have four new entities, and this cannot be ignored,” Peskov also noted, emphasizing that “of course, everyone will have to take this into account.”

Recall that earlier Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukrainian troops would not have to return all lost territories by military means. According to him, Russia will agree to negotiations if the Ukrainian Armed Forces reach the borders at the start of the special operation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Zelensky made this statement because he was nervous about the situation related to the cancellation of the presidential elections in Ukraine.