Kremlin doesn't want to negotiate with Zelensky
Konstantin Malofeyev, a Russian tycoon and Kremlin confidant, said in two interviews with the Financial Times and Bloomberg that Putin wants Zelensky removed to negotiate a peace plan.
“As a lasting condition for peace, Moscow wants Mr. Trump to discuss the wars in the Middle East, Russia’s alliance with China and the United States’ recognition that Ukraine is part of the Kremlin’s 'core interests',” Mr. Malofeyev said.
“We want long-term peace, some kind of general agreement on the world order,” Mr. Malofeyev said. “Trump wants to make history, he’ll be 80 soon, he’s a grandfather. Putin is not 50 anymore either. That will be the legacy they will leave."
During his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump pledged to quickly end Russia’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine, raising concerns that he would try to force Ukraine to accept a deal on Russia’s terms.
Putin has publicly demanded that Ukraine cede swathes of territory in the east and south of the country as a precondition for stopping the fighting.
(MH with AmBar/Source: Financial Times/Bloomberg/Photo: Nikita Karimov/Unsplash)