West not letting Ukraine 'even think' about peace talks with Russia, says Kremlin

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) — Russia on Tuesday accused the US and European countries of barring Ukraine from considering peace talks with Moscow.

"Washington, European capitals — but first of all Washington — are filled with a desire not to allow peace talks to be held under any pretext. They just don't allow Kyiv to even think (about it)," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's Rossiya 1 TV channel.

Western countries "threw off (their) masks and showed their fangs," Peskov asserted, noting that in contrast, China was making an effort for peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Amid a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow, Peskov said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin would hold talks in both restricted and expanded formats, issue a press statement, and have a state dinner, at which the sides will voice "official toasts."

Commenting on remarks by former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who suggested lifting sanctions from Russian businessmen who publicly condemn Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine, Peskov said those who have their businesses on Russian territory would be unlikely to comply.

"In any case, I repeat, we consider all these sanctions and restrictions illegal from the point of view of international law," he reiterated.