"As long as Zelensky is there, there will be no talks between Ukraine and Russia" — says Medvedev

According to Dmitry Medvedev, the former President of Russia and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are impossible as long as the "Kyiv regime" and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remain in power, RBC reports.

Medvedev made this statement during his visit to Vietnam, emphasizing that the situation will not change from Russia's perspective as long as these individuals hold positions of authority in Ukraine.

However, Medvedev acknowledged that Moscow and Kyiv will eventually need to engage in negotiations. He stated that while peace plans for resolving the conflict in Ukraine should be examined, the presence of the current Ukrainian leadership hampers the possibility of fruitful discussions.

In early May, The Wall Street Journal reported, based on European sources, that key representatives of the US National Security Council favor talks between Moscow and Kyiv. However, the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency reportedly wish to assess the outcome of the recent attack on Ukraine before initiating negotiations.

Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, noted that other countries aim to compel Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow based on Russia's terms. However, Ukraine maintains its position to negotiate on its own terms, which includes President Zelensky's demand for a return to the country's 1991 borders.