The Kremlin said on Monday that it wants to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, but efforts to resolve it have faltered.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to statements made on Friday by US President Donald Trump, who said in a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban: “I think we agree that the war will end in the not-too-distant future.”
Peskov reiterated the Kremlin’s position that the war can end when Russia achieves its goals, preferably doing so through political and diplomatic means.
“But there is a pause now, the situation is stagnant. It is stagnant through no fault of ours,” he added, blaming Ukraine.
Ukraine and its European allies reject Moscow’s accusations of obstructing peace efforts. No direct talks have been held between Russia and Ukraine since July 23.
Trump tried to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet, but the Kremlin said such a summit could only be held in Moscow, a condition that Zelensky rejects. He has said several times that he does not believe Putin is serious about seeking peace.
Peskov stated that it is Kiev that does not want to continue the conversation.
He added, “They are encouraged in every way by the Europeans, who believe that Ukraine is capable of winning the war and ensuring its interests through military means.”
He said that this is a deep illusion given the situation at the front.
As the war approaches the end of its fourth year, Russia controls about 19% of Ukrainian territory, and is striving to seize the cities of Pokrovsk and Kubyansk.
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