Russia ready for negotiations, but not a ceasefire; Lavrov: If Zelensky wants to talk to Putin, let him come to Moscow

Moscow is ready to resume negotiations with Kyiv, but refuses to declare a ceasefire at the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, according to the state-run TASS news agency.

On the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Lavrov assured that Russia was demonstrating goodwill.

“We remain ready for negotiations, but the military operation will not be suspended,” the foreign minister added.

He reiterated that Moscow was offering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the opportunity to visit Russia.

“If he wants to come, let him come,” Sergei Lavrov said, adding that “this is already a major gesture of goodwill on our part.”

Zelensky has categorically rejected the idea, which his Russian counterpart put forward several months ago.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also insisted that Zelensky should travel to the Russian capital if he genuinely wants to meet with his Russian counterpart.

“If he really wants to talk to Putin, he must come to Moscow,” Mr. Peskov, who was present in New Delhi, said when asked about the scenario of a possible summit in Miami during the G20 summit in December.