Kremlin rejects urgency for Ukraine peace talks amid ongoing conflict

The Kremlin has pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump's call for a rapid Ukraine peace deal, emphasizing that the conflict's complexity makes rigid deadlines unrealistic. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's stated openness to negotiations but insisted that Ukraine must take legal steps to enable dialogue, while also noting ongoing contact with the U.S. through various channels. Recent proposals for a ceasefire, such as an Easter truce and a 30-day halt on strikes against civilian infrastructure, have seen only brief reductions in hostilities, with both sides resuming attacks and trading accusations of violations. Russia has also voiced concerns about distinguishing between civilian and military targets, complicating any agreement on infrastructure protection. Meanwhile, high-level meetings among Ukraine, the U.S., UK, France, and Germany are planned in London, but skepticism remains about achieving a swift or comprehensive peace, especially given Russia's conditions and Ukraine's resistance to major concessions. European allies are particularly wary of proposals that could compromise regional security, such as recognizing Crimea as Russian and barring Ukraine from NATO.