Kremlin says peace talks with Ukraine on hold, blames European interference

Russia remains formally open to peaceful dialogue with Ukraine, but progress toward a negotiated settlement is being obstructed by European actors, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated.

Speaking at a briefing, Peskov reiterated Moscow’s readiness to engage in diplomacy, while acknowledging that the path to meaningful negotiations remains fraught with geopolitical hurdles, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“The Russian side maintains its readiness to pursue the path of peaceful dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. But the fact that the Europeans are interfering — that is indeed the case, and it’s no secret to anyone,” Peskov said.

He cautioned against unrealistic expectations regarding the pace or success of any future diplomatic efforts. “One should not wear rose-colored glasses and expect the negotiation process to yield instant results,” he added.

Peskov’s remarks come amid growing international concern over the prolonged stalemate in the Russia–Ukraine war. While backchannel discussions have reportedly continued at various levels, official talks remain dormant.

Expanding on the state of bilateral contacts, Peskov confirmed that while communication mechanisms between Moscow and Kyiv remain in place, the negotiation process is effectively paused.

“Communication channels exist and have been established. Our negotiators have the ability to communicate through these channels, but for now, it is more accurate to say that the process is on pause,” he told reporters.

By Vafa Guliyeva