Kathrine Frich
The Kremlin has announced that negotiations with Ukraine have entered a pause,
The Kremlin has announced that negotiations with Ukraine have entered a pause,
Kremlin confirms: “Peace talks are on hold”
So far there no timeline set for when discussions might resume.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that while communication channels remain open, “for now, we can rather talk about a pause.”
Communication channels remain intact
Despite the halt, Russian officials say that lines of communication between negotiators still exist.
They do not eliminate the possibility that communications could be opened again in the future.
Peskov said “the framework for dialogue is well established,”
He did admit afterward that no progress has been made that could justify another immediate round of talks.
Istanbul talks failed to deliver results
The last major attempt at diplomacy took place earlier this year in Istanbul, where delegations met face to face.
Those discussions ended without meaningful progress.
The only outcome was an agreement on prisoner exchanges, far short of any breakthrough on ending the war itself.
Trump pushes for a quick deal
US President Donald Trump has positioned himself as the main mediator between Moscow and Kiev.
He has made it clear that he wants to achieve a rapid conclusion to the war, which began with Russia’s invasion in 2022.
So far, his push for urgency has not really narrowed the gap between the two sides.
Russia’s conditions remain uncompromising
Moscow’s demands are sweeping:
- Demilitarization of Ukraine,
- Formal surrender,
- Cession of territories Russia claims as its own. These include regions where Russian control is partial at best.
The Kremlin insists that these conditions must be met before a peace agreement can be signed.
Ukraine rejects surrender terms
For Ukraine, the Russian demands are unacceptable.
Kiev insists that giving up land or military strength would only expose the country to further aggression.
Ukrainian officials argue that even if an agreement were signed under such terms, Russia would “attack again,” rendering the deal worthless.
Security guarantees are key for Kiev
Ukraine has turned to its allies for firm security guarantees as part of any future peace deal.
The leadership in Kiev believes that Western support is the only deterrent strong enough to prevent Moscow from renewing its offensive, even after a ceasefire.
Without those guarantees, compromise is seen as impossible.
