Expedited Ukraine peace deal unlikely – Moscow
Russia does not believe that a peace deal with Ukraine can be concluded in an expedited manner, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump suggested that Moscow and Kiev could sign an agreement by the end of this week, while urging both sides to stop fighting and focus their attention on trade with the US.
Commenting on Trump’s proposed timeline, Peskov told journalist Pavel Zarubin that while contacts with the US are ongoing through “various channels,” it would be ill-advised to expect an agreement to be reached quickly.
“This topic is so complex that it probably shouldn’t be constrained by strict timeframes,” Peskov said, adding that attempting to agree on a viable settlement in a rushed manner would be a “thankless task.”
The spokesman noted that work on resolving the conflict is still underway, and recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin recently suggested direct contacts with Kiev to discuss Vladimir Zelensky’s proposed moratorium on striking civilian infrastructure.
Asked about the level at which Moscow would be willing to hold such contacts, Peskov admitted that there are currently no specifics, particularly given that the Ukrainian side has yet to lift Zelensky’s ban on negotiating with the Russian president.
Throughout the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has consistently said it remains open to talks with Kiev, but has stressed that negotiations must be based on the realities on the ground and address the root causes of the crisis, such as Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO.
At the same time, Russian officials have repeatedly accused Ukraine of not wanting a resolution. During a phone call with Trump last month, Putin stated that Kiev has a history of sabotaging the peace process and violating agreements.
The US president and his administration have been growing impatient with the pace of negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned that if no progress is made on resolving the conflict soon, Washington could “move on” and abandon its efforts.
