Kremlin says talks do not stop fighting
Russian officials argue that resumed negotiations between Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington will proceed without a pause in military operations.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Russian leadership maintains that active combat will continue while peace negotiations resume.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated that the decision to restart trilateral talks does not imply a pause in hostilities. Speaking to Interfax, Peskov noted, "The decision to resume trilateral negotiations with the participation of Russia, Ukraine and the US does not mean any halts on hostilities." He added that Russian forces continue to "inflict massive and consistent strikes" on Ukrainian targets. Peskov described the Ukrainian government as the "Kyiv regime" and said it is continuing its corresponding military actions.
This stance follows recent diplomatic positions from both sides. On October 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued against an immediate ceasefire. He claimed such a halt would "preserve the Nazi regime" and "ban the Russian language." Earlier in the month, Vladimir Putin signaled readiness to resume talks on conditions favorable to Moscow. Those conditions include the occupation of the entire Donbas, Ukrainian neutrality, and security guarantees for Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined a counter-proposal on October 24. He expressed readiness for a deal that freezes the conflict along the current line of contact. However, Zelenskyy specified that Ukraine will not recognize temporarily occupied territory as Russian soil. The diplomatic framework is now taking shape with US involvement.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on October 26 that Washington is planning trilateral talks aimed at ending the war. These discussions are expected to bring together Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in a direct negotiation process.
