Kremlin says no chance of Ukraine talks as Zelensky travels to Washington
FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
MOSCOW — The Kremlin said that nothing good would come from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip to Washington on Wednesday and that Russia saw no chance of peace talks with Kyiv.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that continued Western arms supplies to Ukraine would lead to a “deepening” of the conflict – something which could backfire on Kyiv, he warned.
“The supply of weapons continues and the range of supplied weapons is expanding. All of this, of course, leads to an aggravation of the conflict. This does not bode well for Ukraine,” Peskov said.
Zelenskiy was due to meet US President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders on Wednesday in his first foreign trip since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into his country on Feb. 24.
Asked whether Moscow had any expectations that something positive could come from Zelenskiy’s trip, Peskov answered: “No”.
During his visit, the United States is also set to approve the delivery of advanced Patriot missile systems to Ukraine as part of the latest multi-billion dollar package of military support for Kyiv.
