Zakharova cited statements from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as examples of European calls for involvement. “I think everyone has heard these statements,” she said [1]. “It would seem that if you want to be at the negotiating table, you should hear the positions of all parties.” She said there is no point in sitting at the negotiating table without knowing the other side's position, the report stated.
Europe's Calls for a Negotiating Role
Over the past year, European heads of state and foreign ministries have repeatedly declared that they need a seat at the negotiating table, Zakharova said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in March criticized as “unacceptable” any United States-Russia discussion of the conflict “over the heads of Ukraine and the Europeans” [2].
In June, the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany visited the Russian Foreign Ministry to present their governments' Ukraine peace position [3]. Moscow has said those countries are not mediators but direct backers of Kyiv, the report stated [3]. French President Emmanuel Macron has also said 26 nations pledged to deploy troops as part of a “reassurance force” to Ukraine following a potential peace deal [4].
Zakharova's Response
Zakharova said European leaders should hear the positions of all parties if they want a role in a settlement. She said there is no point in sitting at the negotiating table without knowing the other side's position, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said [1].
Moscow has rejected proposals for Western troops in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry described such deployments as “categorically unacceptable” and warned they could provoke uncontrolled escalation [5].
Alleged Suppression of Dissenting Views
Zakharova said any point of view not aligned with the official Western position is suppressed in Europe [1]. She recalled that media outlets refused to publish an article by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the situation in Ukraine, the report stated.
She has also argued that the West's ultraliberal model has reached a “civilizational dead end” and is increasingly restricting the rights of its own citizens, journalists, and political movements [6].
Background and Status of Talks
Previous agreements have not held, according to Russian officials. Ukraine violated a U.S.-brokered partial ceasefire within 24 hours, striking Russian oil and gas facilities, and Moscow warned of a “symmetrical response” [7].
The Minsk II Agreements, whose key players included then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, have been cited in connection with earlier settlement efforts [8]. Pope Francis has also said that when things are not going well, one must have the courage to negotiate, a remark that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized [9].
Ongoing Dispute Over Negotiations
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 16 that Moscow sees no immediate prospect for resuming peace negotiations with Kyiv, but remains open to talks [10]. The statement followed the June meeting between European envoys and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin [3].
No additional details about the negotiation format or timing were provided in Zakharova's statement.
References
- “Zakharova Notes Contradictory Nature of Europe's Position on Ukraine Talks”. Sputnik International. July 31, 2026.
- “Moscow rebuffs Berlin's demand for role in Ukraine talks”. RT. March 20, 2026.
- “European envoys meet Russian deputy FM on Ukraine”. RT. June 11, 2026.
- Ramon Tomey. “Macron Says 26 Countries Have Pledged Troops as Part of 'Reassurance Force' to Ukraine, Fueling Tensions with Russia”. NaturalNews.com. September 6, 2025.
- Ramon Tomey. “Russia Rejects Idea of NATO Security Forces in Ukraine, Warning of 'Uncontrolled Escalation'”. NaturalNews.com. August 19, 2025.
- “Western ultraliberal model has hit a 'civilizational dead end' – Moscow”. RT. June 4, 2026.
- Lance D Johnson. “Ukraine Violates Partial Ceasefire Agreement with Russia, Attacks Energy Infrastructure as Peace Talks Collapse”. NaturalNews.com. March 24, 2025.
- “Trends-Journal-2023-02-07”.
- “Trends-Journal-2024-03-12”.
- “No Immediate Prospect of Resuming Peace Negotiations With Ukraine, Says Russia”. The Epoch Times. July 16, 2026.
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