Putin Opens Door to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Stalled Negotiations

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin is open to peace negotiations in Ukraine and prefers diplomatic solutions, but warned that the complexity of the conflict makes rapid progress unlikely despite U.S. pressure. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed mixed views on Putin's intentions, at times doubting and at other times affirming that the Russian leader wants peace, while also claiming his presence prevents Russia from overtaking Ukraine. Trump has pushed for a ceasefire, but his proposals have not yet resulted in significant breakthroughs, and both sides remain at an impasse. Meanwhile, Russian opposition voices argue Putin uses negotiations to extract concessions from the U.S. and prolong talks. Moscow recently declared a temporary three-day ceasefire for commemorative purposes, but rejected broader ceasefire proposals, continuing to question Kyiv's readiness for peace. Overall, while there are signals of openness to negotiation, significant mistrust and differing objectives persist among the main actors.