In an interview with Russia’s Rossiya-1 TV, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that any negotiations on Ukraine must begin with Washington, as Kiev takes its orders from there. “Obviously, Washington has a deciding vote. It is impossible to discuss anything, say, with Kiev,” Peskov said, according to TASS.
Peskov said further: “Kiev has a president, a legitimate Ukrainian president, Mr. Zelenskyy, and it is theoretically possible to reach any agreements with him, but, bearing in mind the March experience, these agreements mean nothing because they can be immediately canceled at the dictation from outside. So, at least, it is necessary to speak with someone else, plus with their motivator, patron and so on,” he told the popular “Moscow.Kremlin.Putin” Sunday program.
During the interview the question came up of what it would take for Russia to come to the table with the U.S., to which Peskov replied: “the desire of the U.S. to listen to our concerns.” He referenced the documents sent to the U.S. and NATO headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 15, 2021 in this context. (https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1790809/)
The Kremlin spokesman added an ominous comment about Russia’s resolve not to tolerate anyone governing it: “We may not be successful everywhere, we may have certain failures, but we cannot be a subject to anyone. It is impossible. And it is a guarantee that we will defend our interest,” he said.
