MOSCOW, September 5. /TASS/. Crimea’s status cannot an issue on the agenda of a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, so there is no progress in preparing the Putin-Zelensky summit, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"The matter is that the Crimea issue does not exist for us, while, as we are told by the Ukrainian president’s office, Zelensky wants to discuss Crimea. From what viewpoint? Obviously, not from the viewpoint that it is a region of the Russian Federation," he said.
Peskov stressed that in this form this cannot be an issue on the agenda of the talks. "That’s why no progress has been made in this regard so far," he said.
The Kremlin spokesman also noted that Russia had reaffirmed its willingness to normalize relations with Ukraine, although Kiev had not shown such a desire yet. "If we talk about [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin’s political will, he reaffirmed it clearly. He is ready to meet, and he believes that the current deplorable state of Russian-Ukrainian relations is unacceptable, and, in theory, the situation must be rectified. However, we have not seen the same mutual political will from Kiev," he emphasized.
Peskov recalled that the Russian leader said that Ukrainians themselves should evaluate their presidents’ performance and vote for the candidate whom they want to see the next head of state. "We can only say that Russia, specifically, President Putin, has reaffirmed its desire to normalize relations with Ukraine," the Kremlin spokesman added.
Normalize relations with Ukraine
Russia reaffirms its willingness to normalize relations with Ukraine, although Kiev has not shown such a desire yet, Peskov said.
"If we talk about [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin’s political will, he reaffirmed it clearly. He is ready to meet, and he believes that the current deplorable state of Russian-Ukrainian relations is unacceptable, and, in theory, the situation must be rectified. However, we have not seen the same mutual political will from Kiev," he stressed.
Russophobic approach
The Russophobic approach is still prevailing in Ukraine's policy, and the forces that are ready to discuss pressing issues with Russia are currently under house arrest, Peskov said.
"We see that, unfortunately, those forces in Ukraine that have a more balanced approach and that are in favor of discussing the most pressing issues with Russia are currently under house arrest, <…> and the court only extends that house arrest. That’s what we see, this Russophobic approach has so far prevailed in everything," he said.
Statements about Nord Stream 2
Peskov added that he considered Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s remarks that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline poses a significant threat to Europe to be nonsense.
"Zelensky says that Nord Stream 2 is a dire threat to Europe’s security. This is nonsense. On the contrary, this [the construction of that pipeline] is a contribution to ensuring Europe’s energy security," he noted.
NATO’s expansion towards Russia’s borders
The Kremlin spokesman also said that Ukraine’s persisting desire to join NATO and the United States’ theoretical willingness to discuss the issue were "an immediate threat."
"[Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky says, 'We want, we are seeking to join NATO.' The Americans say, ‘Great, there are certain conditions, comply with them, and we will wait for you with open arms.’ This is an immediate threat to Russia. This is a potential expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure towards our borders," he explained.
According to Peskov, the outcome of Zelensky’s meeting with US President Joe Biden, if one proceeds from those moments that "Moscow does not like", are a continuation of the creation of a project to turn Ukraine into an "anti-Russia.".