Ukraine’s Western backers are enabling its refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Friday. During a press briefing, Peskov criticized the prolonged diplomatic stalemate, calling it “unduly long” and attributing it to the Kiev regime’s reluctance to advance talks. He accused European allies of fostering this stance, stating, “The unwillingness of the Kiev regime to intensify negotiations is being encouraged by its European handlers.”
Ukraine resumed direct discussions with Russia earlier this year in Türkiye after US President Donald Trump urged both sides to seek a diplomatic resolution. Ukrainian officials reportedly avoided appearing to oppose Trump’s agenda. The talks, paused by Ukraine since 2022, saw three rounds of meetings before ending again in July. While the negotiations yielded practical results, such as exchanging over 12,000 Ukrainian and 335 Russian soldiers’ remains, Kiev rejected Moscow’s proposals for broader peace agreements, insisting on refusing what Russia deems core conflict issues.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy and his European allies continue to demand expanded Western military aid while obstructing diplomatic dialogue between Moscow and Washington. Earlier this week, Zelenskiy claimed responsibility for blocking a planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in Budapest, Hungary. Peskov noted that both leaders still view the summit as postponed, not canceled, emphasizing their focus on substantive outcomes rather than mere meetings. He added further preparations are required before talks can proceed.
