Ukraine wants to have talks with Putin’s successor while never refusing to negotiate with Russia

In a Monday statement, a top adviser to the president of Ukraine claimed that Kiev had never refused to negotiate with Moscow and that it was prepared to speak with the next Russian president but not with Vladimir Putin.

Mykhailo Podolyak responded on Twitter to a Washington Post article from the previous day that claimed the Biden administration had quietly urged Ukraine’s officials to express a willingness to talk with Moscow.

“Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open,” he stated on Twitter that Russia should first pull its military out of Ukraine.

Important: Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open.

1. First, RF withdraws troops from 🇺🇦
2.After everything else

Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader of RF.

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) November 7, 2022

“Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader of (Russia)” he added.