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Kremlin Says Kyiv Is Stalling Peace Efforts, Blaming US Mediation
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![Photo of Maryna Kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
After months of diplomatic deadlock, the Kremlin on June 29 blamed Kyiv and Washington for stalled peace talks, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying progress now depends on Ukraine’s position, the role of US mediation, and outcomes on the battlefield.
“A lot depends, naturally, on the position of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov told Belarus 1 TV, in comments reported by Reuters, adding: “It depends on how effectively Washington's mediating efforts continue.”
Peskov did not clarify what specific actions Moscow expects from Washington or Kyiv. Russia has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine cede territory and end its reliance on Western military aid—conditions Ukraine has firmly rejected.
No date has been set for a third round of talks, though Peskov said Russia hoped new dates would be announced “in the near future.”
Ukraine’s delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, has called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire—a demand backed by Ukraine’s Western allies—while Russia has proposed only a 2–3-day pause to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers.
Despite the impasse, Moscow said it remains open to a third round. “In general, we are ready for this,” Russian leader Vladimir Putin told reporters on June 27, suggesting Istanbul as a possible venue.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara is working to organize a high-stakes peace summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, with US President Donald Trump joining the talks if they happen.
