Kremlin says the Ukraine peace process has not stalled

 

The Kremlin said on Thursday that peace talks with Ukraine have not stalled, despite pointed remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump and the recent resumption of American military aid to Kyiv. Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to questions about Trump’s comments earlier in the week, in which the president expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin and accused him of saying “a lot of bullshit.”

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U.S. officials confirmed that Washington has resumed shipments of artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery systems to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian advances. Yet, Peskov dismissed the idea that these developments undermine diplomacy, stating, “No, I don’t think so. You cannot say that.”

According to Peskov, Russia is waiting for a clear signal from Ukraine to engage in a third round of peace talks   the first two rounds took place earlier this year, starting in May in Istanbul. He reiterated that Russia prefers to reach its goals through political and diplomatic means but emphasized that military operations will continue as long as that path remains closed.

Since President Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, over 1.2 million people have been killed or injured, according to U.S. estimates. The Kremlin continues to describe the conflict as a “special military operation,” while the war’s human and geopolitical toll escalates.

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As the conflict in Ukraine grinds on, U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained that he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker. He has repeatedly called for an immediate end to what he calls a “bloodbath,” criticizing both Russia’s aggression and the prolonged military engagement funded by the U.S. government. Trump, whose administration views the war as a proxy struggle between Washington and Moscow, has publicly pressured President Putin to accept peace   even as tensions rise.

Despite these efforts, Putin remains resolute. In June 2024, he reiterated that peace would only be possible if Ukraine abandons its NATO ambitions and fully withdraws from the four regions Russia has claimed as its own   conditions Kyiv has so far rejected. These areas remain contested internationally, with ongoing battles intensifying around key frontlines.

Russian forces currently control roughly 20% of Ukraine and are reportedly making slow but steady progress on several fronts. The Kremlin insists its military campaign will continue unless Kyiv agrees to negotiate on Moscow’s terms. While Peskov claims Russia is ready for diplomacy, there is no indication that Ukraine is willing to enter talks under these preconditions.

President Trump’s administration, meanwhile, has resumed selected weapons deliveries to Ukraine even as Trump voices a desire to end the war swiftly. This contradictory approach reflects the challenge of balancing political pressure for peace with continued strategic support for an embattled ally. With both sides holding firm, a breakthrough in negotiations seems unlikely in the near term.

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