Kiev Will Invent Absurd, Contradictory Formulas, Says Zakharova

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will concoct various "casuistic expressions" to create the illusion of striving for peace with Russia. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“I believe they will come up with casuistic expressions to pretend that they are seeking peace, in the absence of any practical steps in that direction,” Zakharova said during the Eastern Economic Forum 2023 while responding to a question about the likelihood of Ukraine canceling Zelensky's order prohibiting negotiations with Russia.

She added that Kiev will come up with absurd, contradictory formulas. “Zelensky's peace formula doesn’t contain anything about peace; it only mentions scenarios of force, and so on, yet it is called a ‘peace formula.’ They will create such formulations, as if Ukraine is ready for peace but only if Russia offers and states this,” Zakharova elaborated.

In November 2022, Zelensky announced that Kiev has its own 10-point plan to achieve "peace." This includes ensuring nuclear, food, and energy security, an exchange of prisoners held in a 'all-for-all' format, and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Zelensky also reiterated that Kiev insists on being provided with international security guarantees and has developed a draft of the corresponding agreement. He added that Kiev wants to create an international mechanism for compensation of damages incurred from hostilities at the expense of Russian assets.