The war in Europe: In the shadow of the continued Russian invasion of Ukraine and the growing pressure from Western countries, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated today (Monday) that “Moscow is open to talks with the Ukrainian side”. This, after the President of Russia, Vladimir Putinsaid last month that “Russia’s goal is not to destroy Ukraine, if Kyiv is ready for talks, then mediation efforts will be required for that.”

Meanwhile, the Kremlin spokesman pointed an accusing finger in Kyiv’s direction, saying that “it does not compromise and refuses to negotiate.” Peskov’s statements come after it was reported in the “Wall Street Journal” that in recent months the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, participated in secret talks with senior officials in the Russian government in an effort to reduce the risk of an expansion of the war in Ukraine. American officials said that “the talks were also intended to warn Moscow against the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction.”

According to the report, Sullivan spoke with the Kremlin adviser, Yuri Ushkov and Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Nikolai Petrushev. This, after it was published about high-level contacts between American and Russian officials in recent months, as Washington insisted that talks be held between Moscow and Kiev on ending the war in Eastern Europe.