MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russia does not set preconditions for the resumption of negotiations with Ukraine, all it takes is the goodwill of Kiev, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said.
"Ukraine has adopted a law, which prohibits it from holding peace negotiations with Russia. It's their choice, while we have always declared our readiness for such negotiations, the disruption of which is not our fault," Rudenko told reporters.
"We set no preliminary conditions but the main one: Ukraine needs to demonstrate goodwill," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the end of October that Russia's stance on negotiations with Ukraine was invariable, while Kiev had no desire to talk. "How can we discuss possible agreements, when the other [Ukrainian] side is unwilling to even talk with us? We will wait, perhaps, the necessary conditions will arise, while our goodwill is well known, it is invariable and doubtless," Putin said at a press conference at the end of trilateral negotiations with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Sochi on October 31.
"In order to begin making proposals at negotiations, it is necessary that they take place, but laying out your negotiating position on the table in advance is not always advisable if you wish to achieve your national goals," Putin said. "Sometimes this needs to be done for the last time or through lodging demands that diplomats call requests. Then, steady progress should be made towards a common denominator to please both sides," he said.
"However, in order to achieve any agreements, it would be necessary to sit down for talks and come to terms. We made a deal in Istanbul but it was tossed into the waste bin. Now they have prohibited themselves from talking with us about anything," he said.