The Kremlin has emphasized that any peace deal on the Russia-Ukraine war should be negotiated directly with Kyiv, rather than Washington. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed gratitude for the US’s efforts in mediating the peace process but stated that the root causes of the crisis are too complex to be resolved quickly. Peskov pointed out that a peace agreement must be concluded with Ukraine, not the United States, and that Russia remains open to direct negotiations with Kyiv without preconditions.
In response to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning that Washington would step back from its role as a mediator unless both Moscow and Kyiv present concrete proposals to end the conflict, Peskov reaffirmed that Russia is committed to political and diplomatic solutions. He also commented on a recent Truth Social post by US President Donald Trump, expressing Putin’s support for a ceasefire initiative but highlighting the need to address various unresolved issues before any agreement can be reached.
Peskov further emphasized that Russia has not heard any statements from Kyiv regarding its readiness to engage in direct negotiations, making the future of the peace talks uncertain.
