Kremlin Confirms Ukraine Talks 'On Pause' As Zelensky Rules Out Giving Up The East - BERITAJA

picture via BBC

The Kremlin stated Friday that peace negotiations with Ukraine are effectively stalled, with no progress expected in the near term. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the talks were best described as “on pause,” noting that while channels remain open, there should be no expectation of quick breakthroughs. Two rounds of discussions had been held earlier this year, initiated with U.S. mediation.

Peskov cautioned against optimism, suggesting Western nations were obstructing dialogue by promoting security guarantees involving NATO forces, a proposal Moscow rejects outright. At the same time, he reiterated that Russia remains committed to the framework of peaceful dialogue, despite the lack of movement.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a broker, remarked in a broadcast interview that the process has faltered due to alternating unwillingness from both leaders. “When Putin wants to do it, Zelensky didn’t. When Zelensky wanted to do it, Putin didn’t. Now Zelensky wants to do it and Putin is a question mark,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, again underscored that eastern territories could not be treated as a negotiating concession, describing them as non-negotiable. He pointed to Russian battlefield gains but insisted that Moscow would not be able to seize the entire Donbas region. Zelensky told U.S. media outlets that Putin had conveyed to American envoys, including Trump’s representative Steve Witkoff, an intention to occupy the region within a matter of months.

While the assassination of political figure Charlie Kirk has dominated headlines in recent days, the war continues to grind on with cross-border strikes and fighting in contested areas. Analysts say the prolonged stalemate, combined with conflicting territorial demands, keeps prospects for meaningful peace talks uncertain.