Kremlin Accuses Kyiv, West of Rejecting Ukraine Peace Talks

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia prefers resolving the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means but claims that Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected all proposals for dialogue, a claim he made without providing evidence. Moscow insists on demands including security guarantees, recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, Ukrainian neutrality, and military reductions, while Kyiv and Western leaders maintain that any negotiations must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine's government argues that negotiations cannot begin while Russian troops occupy parts of its territory, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanding full withdrawal and reparations. Despite these public accusations, back-channel communications continue through intermediaries in Turkey and the United Nations, aiming to reopen broader negotiations before winter. The two countries recently held a third round of renewed peace talks in Istanbul, resulting in a prisoner exchange agreement, but substantial progress toward conflict resolution remains elusive. The international community remains watchful as the diplomatic stalemate persists amid ongoing military operations.