Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Moscow remains "open for talks" with Kyiv on Russia's ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, stressing that the "goals of the special military operation" in Ukraine's east "remain unchanged."
In an interview with Izvestia published on October 13, Peskov said the "special military operation continues in order for us to reach our goals because we were unable to reach them through political and diplomatic means."
Peskov said Moscow has "repeated many times that we are open for talks to reach our goals” and said its “goal-setting remains unchanged."
Peskov added that Moscow was also open to talks with other countries on the basis of mutual respect.
Following major setbacks on the battlefield last month as Ukrainian forces launched successful counteroffensives to liberate territories occupied by Russian troops, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said several times that Moscow "is ready" for talks with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected the talks, saying Ukraine will speak to the "next" Russian president, implying that talks can proceed only after Putin leaves his post.