Russia announced on Saturday that it will not attend a potential second Ukraine peace summit in November, even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that Moscow representatives would be invited this time.
The decision was made before Zelensky’s upcoming trip to the United States, where he plans to present his peace proposals to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump.
In a statement, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the summit, stating, “The goal remains the same: to push the unworkable ‘Zelensky formula’ as the sole framework for resolving the conflict, gain global support, and present Russia with an ultimatum for surrender.”
She further added, “We will not participate in such ‘summits.’”
Moscow, however, expressed its willingness to consider “serious proposals” that reflect “geopolitical realities,” referencing President Vladimir Putin’s remarks from June.
In June, Putin stated that Russia would engage in peace talks only if Ukraine cedes four regions that Moscow claims as its own.