Russia blames Ukraine and EU for stalled peace process

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has attributed the stalled Ukrainian peace process to Kyiv's unwillingness to pursue diplomatic solutions and European provocation to continue hostilities. During a Moscow press briefing on Friday, Peskov asserted that the settlement process faces significant obstacles due to what he characterized as Ukrainian resistance to political resolution and European encouragement of continued conflict.

Complete Breakdown of Trust

Responding to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's comments about trust deficits between Russia and Ukraine, Peskov acknowledged a complete absence of mutual trust between the parties. He emphasized that the current situation represents "not a deficit of trust, but its absence," indicating fundamental barriers to diplomatic progress in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for multiple years.

Potential US-Russia Summit

Regarding potential high-level diplomacy, Peskov confirmed that a summit between Presidents Putin and Trump would "certainly be in demand by both sides at a certain stage." However, he stressed that such a meeting must be preceded by "very intense, scrupulous expert work," noting American agreement on this preparatory requirement while declining to speculate on timing for any potential Budapest meeting.

International Relations and Denials

The Kremlin spokesman dismissed Western media reports suggesting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has "fallen out of favor" with President Putin as completely unfounded. On North Korean missile tests, Peskov expressed Russia's respect for Pyongyang's "legitimate right to ensure their safety," while supporting only those peace initiatives that fully align with North Korean interests.