Kremlin Says Peace Talks on ‘Deep Pause’

Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday that ongoing peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are currently experiencing a "deep pause" as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern Ukraine. "We’re pressing forward with the special military operation and our troops are making gains on the front lines," Peskov told reporters.

"As for peace talks, that topic is currently on a deep pause." This shift in Kremlin rhetoric marks a contrast to his earlier comments this summer, where he confirmed Moscow's ongoing dialogue with US negotiators. Recent international efforts to broker a resolution, such as US CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow, and a Vatican diplomatic envoy's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, have had no apparent impact on the talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists on Ukraine ceding full control of the Donetsk region as a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement, a demand rejected by Kyiv. Peskov accused Ukraine of knowing Russia's demands but refusing to discuss them peacefully. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a new framework for ending the war to Washington, which includes a ceasefire, a demilitarized free economic zone, and security guarantees from the EU and NATO.

However, the Kremlin appears resistant to compromise, with Putin determined to advance until his forces secure the remaining Donbas and establish buffer zones in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions.