Without intermediaries. Russia invents new conditions for negotiations with Ukraine. 

This was reported by the Russian media with reference to the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second CIS Department Alexey Polishchuk.

"In February 2022, we responded to Kyiv's request and by the end of March-beginning of April, after many rounds of intense work in face-to-face and video format, we reached a mutually acceptable basis for agreements. However, Kyiv, clearly on the instructions of the Anglo-Saxons, who were afraid of the peaceful settlement’s prospects, suddenly interrupted the negotiation process, leaving our proposals of April 15 unanswered. After that there was no development on the negotiating track," said Polishchuk. 

The director of the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that if the negotiations continue, they should be direct.

"This would be the best option. As practice shows, Western mediators often pursue their own goals and try to influence the course of the negotiations, acting not to resolve the conflict, but in their own political and economic interests," added Polishchuk.

The appeal stressed that in 2022 the negotiations with Ukraine were direct. 

"We have only communicated directly with Ukrainian authorities, using the platforms that were kindly provided to us, which we greatly appreciate. In February-April last year, three rounds of Russian-Ukrainian dialogue were held in Belarus and one in Turkey. Then almost daily contacts were carried out via video link. These were direct talks with Ukrainian authorities," Polishchuk claimed.

• The US believes that on January 4, Russia was not ready for good faith negotiations that would help to achieve peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.  

• On January 5, Turkish President Recep Erdoğan called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and urged him to cease fire in Ukraine and start negotiations.