Kremlin says Russia stays open to peace talks regardless of deadlock
The Kremlin has affirmed its continued interest in peace talks with Ukraine, stating on Monday that a diplomatic settlement remains its preferred path to end the conflict.
This declaration comes despite recent reports suggesting a growing reluctance from Russian officials to engage further in negotiations.
Peace talks have appeared deadlocked in recent weeks, primarily over Russia’s insistence that Ukraine cede control of the remaining parts of its eastern Donbas region – a demand Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected.
A Bloomberg News report on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicated that Russian officials increasingly saw little reason to continue the US-led talks unless Kyiv signalled a willingness to surrender territory.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s commitment to the discussions, stating its approach was unchanged.
“We have our own interests that we must protect, and it is in our interests to continue these negotiations. We certainly remain open to these negotiations,” Mr Peskov said, adding that “a political and diplomatic resolution” was Moscow‘s preferred way of ending the fighting.
Asked whether US strikes on Iran would affect the peace process for Ukraine, Peskov said that Russia continued to value US mediation efforts, but said Moscow only trusted itself “first and foremost” and would be guided by its own interests.
Russia said at recent talks in Geneva it would accept the US proposal for Ukraine’s post-war security guarantees, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff said on Saturday.
“At the last talks, the Russian side said, for example, that they would accept the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the United States,” said top aide Kyrylo Budanov in an interview aired on Ukrainian television.
US President Donald Trump is urging Moscow and Kyiv to strike an agreement to end Europe’s biggest war since 1945, though Zelensky has complained that his country is facing more pressure to make concessions.
Ukraine is seeking iron-clad security guarantees that commit the US and its European allies to action if Russia attacks again after a peace deal is reached.
The last round of peace talks, which took place in Geneva last week, did not achieve a breakthrough and was described as difficult by Kyiv and Moscow, although Washington said it saw “meaningful progress.”
Budanov also said that at present, Russia had not agreed to a summit between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had been floated earlier as a possibility by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Source: independent.co.uk
