Kremlin says Russia maintains working-level contacts with US

Russia continues to maintain working-level contacts with the United States and remains open to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 7.

Speaking to reporters, Peskov said communication between Moscow and Washington was ongoing despite strained bilateral relations, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

"We are maintaining contact with the Americans through working-level channels, and we hope that their efforts—efforts to steer the entire situation onto a peaceful path—will ultimately be successful," he said.

Peskov added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly stated that Moscow remained open to diplomacy.

"At the very least, as the Russian president has repeatedly said, we remain open to this," the Kremlin spokesman said.

Commenting on the prospects for a negotiated settlement, Peskov argued that progress would depend on Ukraine's willingness to engage in talks.

"Everything can follow a peaceful course the moment Kyiv shows goodwill and demonstrates a willingness to make the important decisions that need to be made," he said in response to a question about diplomatic efforts.

Ukraine has consistently maintained that any peace negotiations must respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Russia of failing to demonstrate a genuine commitment to ending the war. Moscow rejects those accusations and says it remains prepared for negotiations under what it describes as realistic conditions.

By Sabina Mammadli