"We must always remember that the Zelensky regime, that is, rather, President [Volodymyr] Zelensky himself, has signed a decree that prohibits the presidents of Ukraine from negotiating with the Russian side. That is, it is very difficult to talk about anything in this situation. We are ready. We have political will, we have readiness, but there is no dialogue here yet, there is no foundation for dialogue," Peskov told Russian broadcaster RT Arabic.
He also said that Russia shares the stance of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the need to maintain communication channels with Russia.
"[Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin is open to dialogue. But no specific proposals have been received so far," Peskov said.
Kiev’s stance is dictated by Washington and Ukraine has neither the will, nor the desire, nor the ability to declare any sovereign position, Peskov said.
"Indeed, the special military operation was launched against Ukraine, against the Kiev regime, in order to ensure the safety of the people of Donbass. This is true. Now it continues as basically a war between Moscow and the collective West," Peskov said, adding that "Ukraine has no sovereignty."
The Kremlin spokesperson also said that Ukraine's demilitarization had been mainly completed as Kiev was using its own weapons much less and deploying more arms supplied by the West.
In November 2022, Zelensky said in a video message to the G20 summit that Kiev did not want to sign a peace agreement that would be against its interests and which Moscow would allegedly "violate immediately after the signing."
The Kremlin spokesman, commenting on Zelensky's statement, said that his words "absolutely confirm" Kiev's unwillingness to negotiate.