USA supports proposal for peace summit with Russia

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Lerato Khumalo

Ukrainian President Zelensky wants to see Russian representatives at the next peace summit. The USA is also in favour of this. But Moscow is reaffirming its previous position.

The USA supports the proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to invite Russian representatives to a second peace conference in the war that has been going on for more than two years. “It is up to Ukraine to decide when and how and in what state it will enter into diplomatic negotiations,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller in Washington. “We support the Ukrainian government.” Miller spoke to journalists about whether the USA approved Zelensky’s proposal to invite Russia to the meeting, unlike at the first peace summit in Switzerland in mid-June.

Only Ukraine itself can decide, said Miller. A just peace is needed. “Ukraine is the victim here, Ukraine sees its country being invaded.” That is why it decides whether and in what format there will be negotiations. “But it has never been clear whether the Kremlin is ready for real diplomacy,” said Miller. The USA had already campaigned for a diplomatic solution to the conflict before the war. Today the country is the largest arms supplier for a military solution.

Zelensky had previously told journalists in Kyiv that Russian representatives should attend a second peace summit. “I have set the task of having a completely finished plan in November. When the plan is ready, everything will be ready for the second summit.”

Russia itself has repeatedly asserted that it is ready to negotiate – but on the condition that Kiev cedes territory. Ukraine rejects this. Russia will not take part in such a summit hosted by Zelensky, said the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, Leonid Slutsky. He described the Ukrainian leadership as “puppets” controlled by the West, who will not allow Moscow to dictate conditions.

Slutsky stressed that a number of countries have presented peace initiatives and that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has also presented a plan. He also pointed out that Russia no longer recognizes Zelensky as president after his term in office officially expired. However, Zelensky is still considered the legitimate head of state due to martial law. Russia, however, only recognizes the parliament and its chairman as legitimate.