Kremlin acknowledges stalemate as U.S. prepares new talks
The Kremlin agrees with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assessment that Russia's war against Ukraine has reached a stalemate, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Oct. 8.
The Kremlin has recognized that Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine has hit a stalemate, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Peskov made the remarks on October 8 during a meeting of former Soviet states in Turkmenistan, echoing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assessment. Peskov stated that diplomats must find a path toward peace, emphasizing that diplomacy involves seeking an alternative to continue on a peaceful path.
He also reiterated Moscow's stance that Russia seeks a comprehensive settlement, rather than temporary solutions like a ceasefire.
However, Peskov did not foresee an immediate trilateral summit involving Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. President Donald Trump. Peskov reiterated that Moscow advocates for a comprehensive solution to ensure a sustainable peace for many years or even decades.
Rubio, during an interview with Greek newspaper Kathimerini, described the war against Ukraine as a "strategic stalemate." He stated that such stalemates can only be broken through a negotiated settlement or escalation, neither of which appear to be viable options at the moment. Rubio added that Russia's primary objective remains the annexation of Donetsk Oblast, which Ukraine deems unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Washington remains open to facilitating talks, but diplomacy has thus far proven ineffective. Russia is reportedly planning to intensify its efforts to cripple Ukraine's power grid during the upcoming winter, aiming to force Kyiv into a surrender. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy rejected Rubio's characterization of the situation, emphasizing that Ukraine was never "backed into a corner" from the beginning of the conflict.
Zelenskyy argued that increased economic pressure, sanctions, and additional U.S. support could potentially alter the dynamics of the war. He urged Washington to impose severe economic sanctions on Russia, effectively "shutting down their entire economy" and hindering further assistance to Russia.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
