Nebenzia says legitimate Ukrainian leadership important for peace agreements

It is fundamentally important for Russia that the peace agreements with Ukraine be signed by the legitimate authorities, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy 's decree (his term expired on May 20, 2024) banning negotiations with Moscow and its illegitimacy may make the process more complicated. Vassily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, said this in an interview with RIA Novosti on February 10.

According to him, the Russian Federation has always declared its readiness to dialog with everyone who is interested in peace for the long term. Nebenzya said that there is a question about Ukraine - who will sign potential peace agreements and how they will be formalized on the legal side of the issue.

The ambassador noted that Zelenskyy had banned negotiations with Russia by his decree, and his powers had already expired last May. Thus, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, they can not be extended.

"These factors can complicate the negotiation process and the fixing of its outcome. If the negotiations are illegitimate, it means that their results can later be declared legally null and void. It is fundamentally important that the people who will sign peace agreements have legitimate authority to do so," the diplomat pointed out.

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And whether they contribute to warming between the countries and finding a solution to the Ukrainian crisis

Earlier, on 1 February, Zelenskyy said that he expected the start of negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict with the participation of Moscow, Kiev, Washington and Brussels. The Kremlin, in turn, said that the Russian Federation considers the Ukrainian leader's words as empty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly reminded that the Russian Federation has never refused from peace talks, but they should be conducted on the basis of the provisions agreed in Istanbul and not on the basis of "ephemeral demands". Also on 28 January, the Russian president specified that "anyone" can negotiate with Russia from the Ukrainian side, but legitimate people should sign documents on the results of the decisions.

The last round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place on March 29, 2022 in Istanbul. They lasted about three hours. Later, Kiev officially refused contacts with Moscow. On October 4, 2022, the Ukrainian president put into effect the decision of the country's National Security and Defense Council on the impossibility of holding talks with Putin.