Moscow has blamed Kyiv for stalling peace talks.
When asked by journalists from whom exactly Moscow is expecting a signal to further the peace talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv, according to Russian media reports.
“From Kyiv, at least. Kyiv must take some action in this regard. They currently have a legal ban on negotiations. But so far, we have not seen any actions,” Peskov stated.
Peskov claimed that Russia remains open to negotiations on Ukraine, but “the ball is not in Moscow’s court” since, according to him, Kyiv is “not demonstrating readiness for agreements.”
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed that talks between Moscow and Kyiv are impossible due to a ban imposed earlier by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In October 2022, Zelensky signed a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decision formally prohibiting negotiations with Putin.
At the same time, the NSDC adopted an appeal to NATO for Ukraine’s accelerated integration and instructed the government to develop a system of security guarantees and strengthen the country’s defense capabilities in response to Russian aggression.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, criticized Russia’s claim of readiness for negotiations. According to him, Peskov is manipulating the narrative.
“When Russia speaks about readiness for negotiations, they somehow forget to stop firing. A full and unconditional ceasefire is necessary. Without it, everything the Russians say is just manipulation to present themselves as peacemakers – nothing more.”
Kovalenko said that hostilities on the front lines continue, and Shahed drones are still being launched.
“Russia continues to sabotage Trump’s diplomatic efforts,” Kovalenko said.