Kremlin refuses to discuss Ukraine contacts, says channels must stay confidential

The Kremlin declined Monday to comment on possible backchannel contacts related to the Ukraine conflict, saying any existing communication channels must remain confidential to be effective. Asked whether Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was involved in contacts between Moscow and Kyiv, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters he would not discuss the matter. “For these existing channels to work and function, they must remain non-public, therefore I will not answer your question,” he said.

Putin’s remarks and battlefield confidence

The comments came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russian media that contacts on Ukraine were continuing “along several directions and several lines.” Peskov said Putin and Lukashenko discussed the conflict during informal talks, along with security and economic cooperation. He said Lukashenko did not relay any messages from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Peskov also said recent battlefield developments gave Moscow confidence it would achieve its objectives, adding: “All the directions in which our troops are advancing were listed by Putin yesterday, naming the settlements. This dynamic is certainly very telling. Of course, it gives confidence that our goals will be achieved.”