Russia Reiterates Readiness for Unconditional Talks with Ukraine

Russia is prepared to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday.

"President Putin renewed his readiness for direct negotiations with the Ukrainians without any initial conditions," he said, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

"This readiness is still active, still valid," Peskov added.

"Unfortunately, we haven’t heard any statements and the comments from Kiev. So, we don’t know if Kiev is ready or not," he noted.

"They are trying to put forward preconditions to any process like a ceasefire," Peskov went on to say. "This contradicts the position of President Putin," the Kremlin spokesman concluded.