OMM Newsroom
The Kremlin on Friday urged the United States and European countries to press Ukraine to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a humanitarian mission to Kostiantynivka. Putin raised the proposal during talks with US envoys a day earlier, according to Anadolu Agency.
“We call upon both the Americans and the Europeans — who, if their claims of striving for peace are to be believed, should also use their influence — to exert pressure on the Ukrainians and encourage them to carry out this humanitarian operation in Kostiantynivka,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov said he hoped the initiative would be developed further and implemented, describing it as building on the experience of a similar mission in Oleshky.
Moscow and Kyiv observed a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-controlled city in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region from Oct. 27. The ceasefire was brokered by US first lady Melania Trump, who later called it a “success” that provided “critical aid to the region and enabled the evacuation of nearly 800 people” from the city.
Ukraine warns of possible troop movements
Peskov rejected Ukrainian claims that Moscow intended to use the proposed mission to rotate troops near Kostiantynivka. He argued that such movements would amount to “effectively acknowledging” Russian control over the settlement and could be detected by “satellites, drones, and other surveillance assets.”
Putin proposed the mission at a meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Thursday, a day after the latest round of US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks ended in Abu Dhabi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn warned on Thursday that Russia could use the initiative to move troops and military equipment into the city. “Given that they brought in equipment and rotated troops in Oleshky under the cover of a humanitarian operation, it is clear what they want to do in Kostiantynivka. However, all the details need to be clarified,” he said, according to Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform.
Russia said it had captured Kostiantynivka in July, a claim Ukraine denied.
Peskov says Moscow is open to talks with Europe
Peskov also said Putin had never rejected contacts with Europe, arguing that European countries had refused dialogue with Moscow.
“If the Europeans have someone who is, in some way, authorized to hold talks — and if they truly have the desire — then, of course, we will be prepared to talk with them,” Peskov said, adding that Russia had not yet discussed bilateral contacts with Europe.
Asked whether Europe could take part in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, Peskov said this could be considered “once we understand their real intention and willingness to contribute to the peace process.” He declined to comment on media reports that French President Emmanuel Macron could serve as Europe’s envoy to the talks.
Peskov also denied that proposals for Finland to withdraw from NATO had been raised during the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
Earlier on Friday, German newspaper Bild reported that Russian negotiators had made far-reaching demands during the latest talks in the United Arab Emirates, including Finland’s withdrawal from NATO and a ban on NATO military bases in the Baltic states.
