Kremlin weighs in on Ukraine conflict settlement

Progress has been made, but no timeframe has been set to reach a peace deal, Dmitry Peskov has said

There has been progress in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, but it is too early to talk about when it might end, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Peskov made the remarks in an interview with TASS on Friday on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, stressing that Moscow is “not ready to predict” specific timelines.

”[President Vladimir Putin] said there is light at the end of the tunnel” in efforts to end the conflict, Peskov stated, referring to a comments the Russian leader made earlier this week in Beijing.

Putin told reporters that a settlement could be drawing closer, citing the position of US President Donald Trump and his administration, who in his view have shown a “genuine desire to find the solution.”

“We’ll see how the situation develops,” Putin said.

The Russian president also reiterated his readiness to meet with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, but cautioned that holding a summit “just for the sake of it” would be a “path to nowhere,” and added that if Zelensky genuinely wanted to talk, he could simply come to Moscow to negotiate peace terms.

Kiev has ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has accused Putin of making “knowingly unacceptable” proposals, claiming that Zelensky is ready to meet at any time but not under Moscow’s conditions.

Zelensky’s presidential term expired last May, but he has refused to hold elections, citing martial law. Moscow has repeatedly questioned his legitimacy, arguing that any agreement signed by him could later be contested by a future Ukrainian government.

Putin has said settling the conflict also depends on Western countries, as Washington remains bound by commitments to its allies, including NATO. Moscow maintains that lasting peace would require Kiev to recognize its new borders and abandon plans to join NATO.

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