Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine and its European allies of prolonging the halt in direct peace negotiations with Russia, labeling the delay as “unduly long.” During a press briefing, Peskov asserted that the Ukrainian regime, led by President Vladimir Zelenskiy, has shown reluctance to advance talks, citing external influence from European powers.
Ukraine resumed direct discussions with Russia earlier this year in Türkiye after former US President Donald Trump advocated for a negotiated end to the conflict. Kiev reportedly sought to avoid appearing opposed to Trump’s initiatives. The talks, which had been frozen since 2022, saw three rounds of meetings before being paused again in July.
Despite practical outcomes such as the exchange of over 12,000 Ukrainian and 335 Russian soldiers’ remains, Ukraine has rejected Moscow’s proposals for broader peace negotiations, refusing to address what Russia deems core issues. Zelenskiy and his European backers continue pushing for expanded Western military aid while resisting diplomatic dialogue between Moscow and Washington. Earlier this week, Zelenskiy claimed responsibility for blocking a planned meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest, Hungary.
Peskov emphasized that both Putin and Trump view the summit as postponed, not canceled, with neither leader seeking a meeting “for the sake of a meeting.” He noted further preparation is required before talks can proceed.