Kremlin demands Ukrainian decision to halt military operations

The spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the special military operation in Ukrainian territory can be stopped at any time, provided that the Ukrainian authorities in Kiev make decisions that he described as “well-known” to them. On the possibility of a summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Peskov explained that such a meeting should serve as the final step in the process He stressed the need to complete the negotiating process in full before holding any summit. The Russian official also stressed that his country maintains its open position regarding diplomatic contacts on the Ukrainian crisis, expressing Moscow's welcome for various international mediation efforts, including US efforts in this regard. Peskov recalled the previous statements of President Putin in which he affirmed his readiness to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart at any time and place, whether he was in the Russian capital Moscow or in any other capital. The Kremlin spokesman referred to Putin's recent statements in which he hinted that the situation was nearing its end, in a clear reference to the possibility of reaching a final settlement to the ongoing conflict. It is noteworthy that Moscow uses the term “special military operation” to refer to the all-out war it has waged on Ukrainian territory since February of last year 2022.