Moscow, July 25, 2024, The Europe Today: The Kremlin has voiced concerns over the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, suggesting that his questionable status may impede future peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters on Wednesday, following remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin questioning Zelensky’s right to hold office.
“Our president has repeatedly said that President Zelensky definitely lost his legitimacy,” Peskov stated, underscoring the Russian administration’s stance on the matter.
A key issue complicating the peace process, according to Peskov, is Zelensky’s 2022 decree, which prohibits any Ukrainian head of state from engaging in talks with President Putin. This decree, coupled with the expiration of Zelensky’s term on May 20, adds to the legal ambiguity surrounding his presidency. Zelensky had postponed the March election, citing martial law due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, arguing that his mandate was extended by Ukrainian law.
President Putin has repeatedly contended that, based on a thorough analysis of the Ukrainian constitution and related legislation, there is no legal basis for Zelensky to remain in power. Citing Article 111 of the Ukrainian constitution, Putin argued in May that Zelensky’s powers should have been transferred to the Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
However, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has maintained that Zelensky is the legitimate head of state, labeling those who challenge his legitimacy as “enemies.”
In a related development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reported that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, during his visit to Beijing, expressed a readiness to engage in peace talks with Moscow. In response, Peskov indicated that Moscow is awaiting further details on the Ukrainian position, stating, “We have not heard such statements from Kuleba himself,” while emphasizing that negotiations are “more preferable” to ongoing hostilities.
The last attempt at negotiations between Russia and Ukraine broke down in the spring of 2022, with both sides blaming each other for making unrealistic demands. As the conflict endures, the legitimacy of leadership and the willingness to engage in dialogue remain critical factors in the pursuit of peace.
