Kremlin says search for Ukraine peace plan without Russia's participation 'absurd process'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday called the search for a "peace formula" for Ukraine without Russia's participation an "absurd process that has no potential for results."

"This 'peace formula,' which has been mentioned and is often mentioned, you know, here you just need to open your eyes and look at the facts -- they are trying to look for a formula for peace without Russia's participation," he told a news conference in Moscow, referring to Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy's 10-point peace plan presented last year.

"To say the least, this is an absurd process. This is a process that has no potential for any results."

Zelenskyy signed a decree in October 2022 that formally declared the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin "impossible."

Moscow started its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022 to fight "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine.

Peskov agreed with Zelenskyy who said on Tuesday that the issue of peace talks with Russia is not "topical" these days.

"We really believe that the topic of talks is not relevant now, and we have repeatedly said that there is no basis, no foundation, no prerequisites for such negotiations," he said.

The spokesman welcomed the UN General Assembly vote on Russia's resolution calling for a fight with the heroization of Nazi ideology, which was supported by 118 countries and opposed by 49, including Canada, Japan, Ukraine, and the US.

Asked about a visit of Venezuelan President Nikolas Maduro to Russia, Peskov said its preparation was in progress, and was not scheduled for this year.