The Kremlin said on Friday that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate with European leaders, but stressed that Russia will not initiate contact with the European Union after diplomatic relations deteriorated following the war in Ukraine.

The comments came after the Financial Times reported that EU leaders were considering the possibility of direct talks with Putin amid frustration over U.S.-led efforts to end the conflict.

According to the report, European Council President Antonio Costa said there was “potential” for negotiations between the EU and the Russian president and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy supported such a move.

Responding to the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin remained open to dialogue.

“Putin is ready to negotiate with everyone. He has repeatedly stated this,” Peskov told reporters.

However, he added that Moscow would not be the side to restart communication with Europe.

“We will be ready to move forward with our dialogue as far as the Europeans are ready to do so,” Peskov said. “However, as Putin has repeatedly stated, we will not initiate such contacts after the position taken by the Europeans.”

Russia argues that European governments were responsible for cutting ties with Moscow after the launch of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

“The Russian side was not the initiator of the complete cessation of our relations with the EU,” Peskov said. “This was initiated by Brussels and individual European capitals.”

European leaders have consistently backed Ukraine throughout the conflict, providing financial aid, weapons and intelligence support while accusing Russia of aggression. Many EU officials have described Putin as an autocrat and warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine could threaten NATO members in the future.

Russia has dismissed those claims, accusing European governments of fueling the conflict through military support for Kyiv.

Putin, who ordered Russian troops into Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly portrayed European powers as warmongers and criticized Western involvement in the conflict.

The Kremlin’s latest comments suggest Moscow remains open to diplomatic engagement, while maintaining that any renewed talks with the European Union must begin on the European side.