U.S.-Russia Deal on Ukraine Remains Elusive, Kremlin Reports Political Will

The Kremlin has stated that while there is political intent from both the U.S. and Russia to negotiate a peace agreement regarding Ukraine, a concrete deal remains elusive. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the positive nature of discussions with the U.S., but he refrained from giving a timeline for a resolution. Contrarily, Ukraine and its European allies have expressed skepticism about Russia's genuine commitment to ending the conflict, accusing it of prolonging negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged the challenges of reaching an agreement, reiterating Russia's demands for Ukraine to abandon NATO aspirations and return territories claimed by Moscow. Following a recent meeting between Russian President Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Lavrov indicated a potential openness to pursuing a permanent peace but underscored that any ceasefire would be contingent on halting Western military aid. The ongoing talks focus on key regions involved in the conflict, but significant hurdles remain.