Fact check: Https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/02/05/kreml-zayavil-ogotovnosti-kpryamim-peregovoram-szelenskim-a154296

1. Summary of the results

The situation regarding potential peace talks is complex and contradictory. While the Kremlin claims openness to negotiations, their actions and statements suggest different intentions:

• Russia's spokesperson Dmitri Peskov has simultaneously claimed openness to negotiations while dismissing Zelensky's peace talk proposals as "empty words" ^[1]
• The Kremlin appears more interested in direct negotiations with the US rather than Ukraine, with senior Russian diplomats suggesting the US must make the first move ^[2]
• There are ongoing preparations for potential Putin-Trump communications, with both sides expressing willingness for dialogue without preconditions ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• Russia is actively questioning Zelensky's legitimacy due to martial law preventing elections ^[1]
• However, Ukraine's constitution explicitly allows the incumbent president to remain in office during martial law ^[4]
• Zelensky has characterized potential talks with Putin as a necessary "compromise" to save Ukrainian lives ^[5]
• There's evidence of intensified departmental contacts regarding peace talks ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

There are several potential sources of manipulation and bias:

• Russia's strategy appears to be two-pronged:

Publicly claiming openness to negotiations while creating obstacles through preconditions ^[5]

Attempting to delegitimize Zelensky's authority to potentially exclude Ukraine from peace talks ^[4]

• Who benefits:

Russia benefits from portraying itself as open to peace while simultaneously undermining direct negotiations with Ukraine

The Russian government benefits from pushing the narrative of Zelensky's illegitimacy to justify direct negotiations with the US instead ^[6]

• Trump potentially benefits from positioning himself as a key figure in potential peace negotiations ^[6]

The situation demonstrates a complex diplomatic dance where public statements often contradict actual diplomatic positions and intentions.