Kremlin: Settlement should be reached with Ukraine, not US

The Kremlin has asserted that any peace settlement must be reached directly with Ukraine, rather than the United States, despite acknowledging Washington's efforts.

In comments made to journalists during a knowledge society marathon, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for President Vladimir Putin, emphasized that the resolution of the conflict must involve Ukraine as the central party, not the US, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

"The peace agreement must be concluded with Ukraine, not with America," Peskov said, stressing Russia's position.

While reaffirming Russia's stance, Peskov also acknowledged the US's role in the peace process. "America is trying to reach an agreement. We are grateful to the United States for their tremendous efforts," he added.

Meanwhile, European and Ukrainian officials are increasingly concerned that US President Donald Trump may abandon peace negotiations with Kyiv and Moscow. Despite his campaign promise to end the war in 24 hours, Trump’s efforts have stalled, with both his attempts to broker a 30-day ceasefire and his overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin failing to gain traction.

Officials suggest Trump is ready to seize any progress in the talks this week, marking his first 100 days in office, even if it doesn’t lead to a long-term resolution. A European official noted, “Trump is setting up a situation where he gives himself excuses to walk away and leave it to Ukraine and us [Europe] to fix.”

Trump's pressure on Putin has been met with resistance, especially over issues such as the maintenance of Ukraine’s military force post-conflict. Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, called the upcoming week “critical” for negotiations but indicated that Washington would not tolerate prolonged talks.

Russia’s recent offer of a three-day ceasefire over the May 8-10 holidays did little to reassure US officials, who are worried about the lack of substantial progress in talks. Trump’s push for a swift resolution is clashing with Putin’s demands, including the “denazification” of Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials have expressed fear that Trump might walk away from the peace process, with some even viewing it as a “serious possibility.” A senior Ukrainian official said, “The worst thing that can happen in the US-Ukraine relations is when Trump will lose any interest in Ukraine,” fearing it could signal tacit approval for further Russian escalation.

While Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi described the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy as “constructive,” there are growing concerns that the US may scale back its diplomatic efforts, prompting Ukraine to prepare for potential isolation by increasing domestic arms production and strengthening ties with European allies.

By Aghakazim Guliyev