Russia remains open to negotiations but sees no immediate path toward renewed talks after U.S.-mediated discussions stalled in February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Kremlin said Thursday that it sees no immediate prospect of restarting peace negotiations with Ukraine, despite maintaining that Russia remains willing to pursue a diplomatic settlement nearly 4½ years into the war.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow appreciates Turkey’s continued willingness to help facilitate negotiations but has seen no indication that another round of talks is approaching.
“We are well aware of our Turkish friends’ readiness to continue facilitating a shift toward a peaceful resolution of the situation surrounding Ukraine,” Peskov told reporters.
“We are grateful to the Turkish side for this. At the moment, however, there are no immediate prospects for resuming the negotiation process; we do not see any such signs. Nevertheless, the Russian side certainly remains open to this path.”
The comments came as the front lines remain largely unchanged and both countries continue attacking cities, energy facilities and vessels at sea. The ongoing strikes have persisted despite several rounds of negotiations held during the past two years.
Russia and Ukraine participated in three brief rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in 2025. Those meetings were followed early this year by two rounds of discussions in Abu Dhabi and another meeting in Geneva, with the United States serving as a mediator.
The negotiations broke off in February as Washington’s attention shifted toward the war with Iran. No new round has been scheduled, and Peskov’s remarks indicated that Moscow does not currently expect the process to restart.
Turkey has repeatedly offered to assist diplomatic efforts and previously hosted direct discussions between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. Although the Kremlin welcomed Ankara’s continued involvement, Peskov said there were no signs that the parties were preparing to return to the negotiating table.
The lack of diplomatic progress comes as the two sides remain divided over whether fighting should stop before a broader settlement is reached.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for a ceasefire. Russia has rejected that approach, arguing that a temporary halt in combat would give Kyiv time to regroup and strengthen its military position.
Moscow instead says it wants a permanent agreement addressing the issues it considers responsible for the conflict rather than an interim truce that could allow hostilities to resume later.
Peskov also addressed a major government reshuffle being undertaken by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, including the selection of a new prime minister and defense minister.
He said the Kremlin was monitoring the changes but did not believe new appointments would alter the diplomatic impasse unless the Ukrainian government changed its position and made decisions that Moscow considers necessary for a peace agreement.
According to Peskov, replacing senior officials would have little practical effect without a broader willingness in Kyiv to take steps toward a settlement.
The Kremlin’s position leaves the negotiations stalled as military operations continue with no significant movement along much of the front.
Russia and Ukraine have continued striking one another’s population centers and critical energy infrastructure, seeking to weaken military capacity and disrupt essential services. Attacks against vessels at sea have also expanded the conflict beyond the ground battlefields.
Those operations have continued while the diplomatic channel remains inactive, with neither side indicating that it is prepared to accept the other’s conditions for ending the war.
Russia maintains that any settlement must be permanent and address Moscow’s stated security and territorial demands. Ukraine has insisted that Russian military pressure should end and has sought an immediate ceasefire as a step toward broader negotiations.
The disagreement over sequencing remains a central obstacle. Kyiv favors stopping the fighting before attempting to resolve the larger political and territorial issues, while Moscow argues that a ceasefire without a comprehensive agreement would merely delay further conflict.
Peskov’s statement kept the possibility of diplomacy open without identifying any specific proposal, timetable or conditions that could bring Russia back into formal talks.
His remarks also underscored the importance Moscow places on decisions by Ukraine’s political leadership rather than changes in the individuals occupying senior government positions.
For now, Turkey’s offer to support negotiations remains available, but the Kremlin says there are no immediate signs that either direct talks or another U.S.-mediated process will resume.
With the front lines largely static, long-range attacks continuing and the parties divided over the terms and timing of a ceasefire, the conflict appears set to continue without an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.
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