Russia considers it premature to comment on reports of U.S. and Ukraine discussing an air ceasefire to end the war, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He stated that any new peace initiative's viability would depend on its alignment with Moscow's interests.
The comments from the Kremlin highlight Russia's cautious stance on potential peace initiatives, indicating that any proposals must align with its national interests before being considered. This underscores the ongoing challenges in reviving peace talks for the conflict in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Sunday that it is too early to comment on reports of discussions between the United States and Ukraine regarding a potential air ceasefire. A Ukrainian source told Reuters that officials from both countries had discussed a proposal for an air ceasefire to present to Russia as part of a renewed effort to revive peace talks aimed at ending the conflict.
The source indicated that Ukraine had previously approached Russian President Vladimir Putin with ceasefire offers, which were rejected. However, some officials believe that ongoing Ukrainian drone and missile strikes might soften Putin's stance due to economic pressure.
"We do not know how credible these reports are or where they come from. These are newspaper reports and nothing more. Therefore, it is premature to comment on them at this stage," Peskov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
He emphasized that Russia's reaction to any new peace initiative would be contingent on its alignment with Moscow's interests. "We have heard statements that some new formulas may be possible. We still need to learn more about them," Peskov added. "And, over time, some formulas or proposals will probably be put forward. What happens next will depend on how closely they correspond to our interests."
Peskov reiterated that Moscow maintains dialogue channels with U.S. negotiators, mentioning that Russian officials hope U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow when their schedules permit.
Efforts by the United States to broker a peace deal have largely stalled recently, with diplomatic attention also diverted by the Iran war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke with Witkoff and Kushner this week about prospects for renewed talks with Russia and is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.