Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russia stated on Monday that it was awaiting a signal from Ukraine about Kyiv’s readiness to engage in direct negotiations to end the war but noted that it had not yet observed any signs of progress.
Since March 2022, Moscow and Kyiv have not engaged in direct talks, which occurred in the initial weeks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Later that same year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy enacted a decree that excluded negotiations with Putin following Russia’s assertion of four Ukrainian regions as part of its territory.
Could a ceasefire lead to direct negotiations soon?
Last Friday, the Kremlin announced that direct discussions between both parties were mentioned during a three-hour meeting involving President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Zelenskiy, who met with U.S. President Donald Trump during Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, stated that Kyiv is prepared to engage in talks with Moscow once a ceasefire agreement is established and the fighting has ceased.
When asked by a reporter whether the initiative for direct talks should originate from Ukraine or the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded:
“Well, from Kyiv, at least Kyiv should take some actions in this regard. They have a legal ban on this. But so far, we don’t see any action.”
How is the United States pressuring both sides?
Both parties faced immense pressure from the United States to reach a settlement to conclude the war, which is the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Ukraine alleges that Russia is stalling to capture additional territory and is calling for increased global pressure on Moscow to halt its aggression. In response, Russia claims that Ukraine is refusing to make any compromises and seeks a ceasefire strictly on its own conditions.
On Friday, a Kremlin aide reported that Putin informed Witkoff of Russia’s willingness to engage in talks with Kyiv without any preconditions.
What role is Donald Trump playing in the conflict?
On Friday, Trump stated that both sides were “very close to a deal.” Recently days, he has expressed more criticism than usual towards Moscow, claiming there is no justification for firing missiles into civilian regions and expressing worries that Putin is “just tapping me along.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy faced off again on Wednesday regarding the ongoing three-year war in Ukraine. Trump criticised Zelenskiy for not acknowledging Russia’s occupation of Crimea. Vice President JD Vance stated it was time for Russia and Ukraine to either accept a U.S. peace proposal “or for the United States to withdraw from this process,” reflecting Trump’s warning from the previous week.
