Kremlin Confirms Pause in Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are currently on pause, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump, including a recent summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that while communication channels between the negotiating teams remain open, no immediate progress should be expected, and direct leader-level talks remain stalled due to Russia's refusal to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Previous rounds of negotiations in Istanbul have yielded limited results, focusing mainly on prisoner exchanges, with Russia demanding Ukraine's full cession of the Donbas region, a proposal Kyiv rejects. Ukraine insists on deploying European peacekeepers and refuses territorial concessions, positions Moscow deems unacceptable. Meanwhile, Russia has escalated its military campaign, including launching its largest aerial strikes of the war, which have caused civilian casualties and damaged Kyiv infrastructure. The deadlock highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict despite international mediation attempts.