"The Ukrainian side is willing and ready to conduct dialogue and negotiations with the Russian side," Kuleba was quoted as saying by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commenting on the development said that the message voiced by Kuleba is in line with Moscow's position.
"You and I really know from reports from Beijing that such a statement was made at a meeting with Wang Yi. The message itself is in unison with our position," Peskov told reporters.
Moscow needs clarification on this issue, because there are no details yet, the official said.
"You know that the Russian side has never refused negotiations and has always maintained its openness to the negotiation process," Peskov added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also expressed Kiev's appreciation for China's active and constructive role in promoting peace and maintaining international order. He emphasized that Ukraine values Beijing's perspective and has carefully considered the six-point consensus reached between China and Brazil.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the talks with Kuleba said that Beijing believes that the resolution of all conflicts should be carried out at the negotiating table.
"The Chinese side believes that the resolution of all conflicts must ultimately return to the negotiating table, and the settlement of all disputes must be achieved through political means," Wang was quoted as saying by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
Kuleba is visiting China from July 23-26. A source in Moscow, commenting on Kuleba's remarks, stated that if Kiev regime genuinely wanted to negotiate with Russia, it would revoke the ban on such talks. In October 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree prohibiting negotiations with Putin.
This statement is one of several recent expressions from Kiev indicating a willingness to engage in talks. Last week, Zelensky mentioned the possibility of peace negotiations with Moscow, including with President Putin, and acknowledged the necessity of resolving the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova suggested that Zelensky's rhetoric is influenced by the electoral cycles in the United States. Moscow has reiterated its readiness for dialogue but notes that the Kiev regime has legally banned such negotiations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has also indicated that there are currently no conditions for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, stating that achieving the objectives of the special operation remains Russia's priority, which, for now, can only be attained through military means.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that, as of now, the only legitimate representative authority in Ukraine is the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) and its speaker, as pointed out by President Putin.