MOSCOW: Russia on Friday announced that it is open to dialogue regarding the situation in Ukraine. The call came shortly after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed a Chinese peace envoy to Moscow, signaling Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks and mediation efforts from various nations.
In a phone call between President Vladimir Putin and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday, the Kremlin announced that Russia is open to dialogue regarding the situation in Ukraine.
Russia has consistently expressed its readiness to resume peace negotiations with Kyiv, which have stalled since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine early last year. The country has welcomed mediation efforts from both Brazil and China. However, Russia has maintained that any negotiations must take into account the “new realities,” referring to its annexation of four Ukrainian provinces that it either fully or partially controls. This condition has been deemed unacceptable by Kyiv.
China, which recently signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Russia, has refrained from criticizing Moscow and has significantly increased its energy imports from Russia since the beginning of the war. China has put forward a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine, which includes a ceasefire but does not require Russia to withdraw from the seized territories.
Russia Welcomes China’s Mediation
During the meeting with the Chinese envoy, Lavrov expressed gratitude for China’s balanced position and willingness to play a crucial and positive role in the peace process. However, the Chinese proposal has faced skepticism from the West, with NATO questioning China’s credibility as a mediator. Despite this, China remains committed to its mediation efforts.
Meanwhile, Lula has positioned himself as a peace broker and has proposed that a group of nations not directly involved in the conflict should engage both Russia and Ukraine in talks. In a tweet, Lula reiterated Brazil’s willingness to talk to both sides, along with India, Indonesia, and China, in pursuit of peace. Although Lula has condemned the invasion, his remarks suggesting that the West had encouraged the war by arming Ukraine have caused friction with Washington but garnered support from Moscow.
At present, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not meet Lula during the recent Group of Seven summit in Japan, despite engaging with other national leaders. Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev expressed distrust towards any truce with Ukraine, suggesting that Russia would need to fundamentally change the power dynamics in Kyiv.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the engagement of multiple countries, including China and Brazil, signals a potential shift in the dynamics surrounding the peace prospects for Ukraine. The international community closely watches these developments as they aim to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
