The Russian Interior Ministry has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its wanted list. In a database published by the organization, it states that he is being pursued by the Kremlin for a crime, although the specific charge is not specified. This move comes as Russia has been involved in the invasion of Ukraine for three years without being able to remove Zelensky from power. The Kremlin has continuously attempted to undermine the legitimacy of the Kyiv Government with baseless accusations, such as labeling it as a “Nazi regime”. By formally declaring Zelensky as a criminal, the prospects for negotiation to end the conflict are further complicated.

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has also been sought and captured by Russian authorities, with the specific charges against him remaining unclear. Both Poroshenko and Zelensky have been recognized as legitimate Ukrainian presidents by Russian President Vladimir Putin after they won the last two presidential elections in Ukraine. Despite the persecution by Moscow, Poroshenko has seen this as a form of recognition and described it as a patriotic act. The Interior Ministry’s search order applies within Russian territory, which includes the illegally annexed Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea.

The decision by the Kremlin to add Zelensky and Poroshenko to the wanted list could hinder the possibility of reaching a negotiated settlement to the war. The Russian government does not engage in negotiations with individuals it accuses of committing crimes, according to a popular pro-war channel on social media. The inclusion of these Ukrainian leaders on the wanted list suggests that negotiations can only take place from a standpoint of surrender, rather than a compromise. This move further underscores the tense relations between Russia and Ukraine and raises doubts about the future of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.