Russia blames Kyiv and Europe for stalled peace process
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that negotiations for resolving the Ukrainian conflict have stalled because Kyiv refuses to pursue a political and diplomatic route. He also accused the European Union of pushing Ukraine to continue military actions.
"The main thing that is currently slowing down the settlement process is the pause that has arisen due to the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to follow the path of a political and diplomatic settlement, and due to the provocation of the Kyiv regime by the Europeans to continue further hostilities," said Peskov.
During a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov confirmed that there is no basis for trust between Russia and Ukraine, echoing comments by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
"Of course, we cannot talk about any kind of mutual trust now. This is not a deficit of trust, but its absence," he said.
Peskov declined to address remarks from US President Donald Trump, who noted that he had already ended eight armed conflicts this year and aimed to include Ukraine’s settlement among his successes, saying Washington had made “great progress.”
Regarding a potential meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Trump, Peskov said such talks would become relevant at a certain stage but should first be preceded by careful diplomatic preparation.
Author's summary
Peskov attributed the stalled Ukraine peace talks to Kyiv's stance and EU influence, emphasizing the absence of trust between Russia and Ukraine despite American diplomatic efforts.