Kremlin Accuses Ukraine of Stalling Peace Talks, Citing Istanbul Agreements

Moscow has accused Kyiv of showing no willingness to pursue dialogue with Russia, despite agreements reached in Istanbul earlier this year to establish working groups on key issues.

“During the last meeting in Istanbul, both delegations proposed forming working groups to address core concerns. Since then, however, progress has stalled. This pause is entirely due to the Kyiv regime’s reluctance to continue dialogue,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Peskov’s comments came in response to questions about Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who last week signaled his readiness to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Vladimir Alexandrovich [Zelensky] needs to calm down — there is a good proposal on the table,” Lukashenko remarked, adding that the matter had already been discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, held earlier this year in Türkiye, included three rounds of talks, the latest in July. While no major breakthroughs were achieved, limited progress was made on humanitarian fronts, including several prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers.

Russia has reiterated its openness to a peaceful resolution, but insists any agreement must address the roots of the conflict and recognize the “realities on the ground” — including the status of territories that Moscow claims were incorporated into Russia following referendums. Ukraine, by contrast, is demanding a complete and unconditional ceasefire, security guarantees, and recognition of its territorial claims as a precondition for any settlement.