**Russia’s Spokesperson: Zelensky is Illegitimate, but We’re Open to Negotiations**
On February 5, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not a legitimate leader. However, he also said that Moscow remains open to negotiations.
This comes after Zelensky recently stated in an interview with UK journalist Piers Morgan that he was willing to sit at the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it would end the war. Peskov called these comments “empty words” and claimed that they must be based on a genuine readiness and desire for negotiations.
**Russia’s Claim of Zelensky’s Illegitimacy**
Russia has long argued that Zelensky is illegitimate because he served past his five-year term without holding new elections. However, Ukrainian legal experts and officials have dismissed this claim as false and unfounded. They point out that Ukraine‘s constitution does not allow elections under martial law, and a significant portion of the Ukrainian population is under occupation and cannot vote.
**Discussion on Negotiations**
The discussion on potential negotiations comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. Zelensky suggested that if NATO membership is not an option, the US should provide Ukraine with alternative security guarantees, including nuclear weapons, to prevent renewed Russian aggression.
Peskov responded to these comments by saying they “border on insanity.” Russia has repeatedly issued nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022.