Kremlin has no information about Zelensky's new peace plan

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Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointed out on Friday that Moscow does not have any information about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's new peace plan.

On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Ukrainian and European diplomats, that Zelensky's administration had been finalizing a 10-point "peace formula" initially mentioned at the G20 summit in Bali and would likely present it in late February.

"No, we are not aware of this. We have heard statements by president Zelensky about various steps, they are also about a peace plan. But everything that president Zelensky has said so far has been said without taking into account the current realities ... which cannot be ignored," Peskov told reporters.

A few days ago, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres revealed that he is not optimistic about the possibility of "effective" peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in the near future. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured that he is open to listening to proposals calling for immediate and medium-term solutions concerning the war in Ukraine. 

Earlier this month, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country is ready for peace talks with Ukraine if a concrete proposal that is considerate of Moscow's interests is presented.

No preliminary contacts on possible Putin-Biden meeting

In a related context, the Kremlin Spokesperson confirmed that there are no preliminary contacts regarding a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden.

"There are no preliminary contacts in this regard," he told reporters.

On Wednesday, Zelensky arrived at the White House and met with Biden in light of the ongoing war in his country.

The Ukrainian President also called for increased unilateral sanctions against Russia, arguing that Congress had the capacity to impose stronger sanctions. 

Ban on Gazprom Gas purchase from joint EU ventures response to unfriendly action

Elsewhere in his remarks, Peskov made clear that restrictions for Gazprom on the purchase of gas from joint ventures with European companies are not a response to the introduction of a Western price cap but to the actions of unfriendly countries.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree, according to which Gazprom is restricted from buying gas from joint ventures with gas companies OMV and Wintershall, with which the company produces gas at the Urengoy and Yuzhno-Russkoye fields, if the amount of obligations exceeds the limit set by the government.

"No, this is a decision that is not related to this European innovation [gas price cap]. This is, in fact, a response to the actions of a number of unfriendly countries," the Russian diplomat said.

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