Russia suddenly announces its readiness for negotiations "taking into account current state of affairs"

Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, has said that Russia is ready to negotiate with Ukraine "taking into account the current state of affairs".

Source: Kremlin-aligned news outlet RIA Novosti (RIA News)

Quote: "We are still open to negotiations. We have never refused them. We are ready to conduct them, of course, taking into account the current state of affairs."

Background: 

• Politico reported that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s new stance that peace talks with Russia can begin with Vladimir Putin in power was directly due to soft nudging by the Biden administration.
• On 8 November, Andrii Rudenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said that Russia has no preconditions for starting negotiations with Ukraine.
• The Ukrainian side considers as manipulation the statements of Russia about negotiations with Ukraine. 
• On 31 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin complained that Ukraine refused to negotiate with Russia and stated that he would wait for Ukraine to agree to such talks.

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