Russia Seeks Signals from Ukraine for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

Russia's Stance on Ukraine Negotiations

The Kremlin has expressed its willingness to pursue a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but is currently waiting for indications from Kyiv to restart direct negotiations, as stated by spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. During a regular press briefing, he highlighted the rapidly changing situation on the ground, noting Ukraine's reluctance to engage in a third round of discussions.

Peskov remarked, "We need to receive some signals from the Kyiv administration regarding their interest in a third round of direct talks." He reiterated Russia's preference for achieving its objectives through diplomatic means.

He also cautioned that the military operation will persist as long as a peaceful resolution remains unattainable, with the situation evolving daily. Earlier this year, two rounds of talks took place in Istanbul, but a third meeting has yet to be arranged.

In related news, the United States has resumed its arms shipments to Ukraine after a brief hiatus. President Donald Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of misleading Washington, a statement the Kremlin dismissed as typical rhetoric from the American leader.

Trump has shown interest in facilitating a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy mentioned that Kyiv's readiness to return to negotiations with Moscow is partly motivated by a desire to avoid being blamed by Western allies for hindering Trump's peace initiatives.

At the ASEAN forum in Malaysia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two diplomats spoke for nearly an hour about the situation in Ukraine and international military assistance.

Rubio, while minimizing the recent pause in US military support, urged European nations to enhance their contributions to Ukraine. He emphasized the need for more Patriot missile systems, which are available in several European countries but have not been shared.