Russia Says It’s Open to Peace in Ukraine — But Only on Its Own Terms, Says Kremlin

Russia has said it is open to peace talks with Ukraine, but only if its own conditions are met, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Speaking on Russian state television, Peskov repeated that President Vladimir Putin wants a peaceful settlement, but stressed that achieving Russia’s goals remains the top priority.

“President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy,” Peskov said. He added, “The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear.”

Those goals include Ukraine giving up its claim to four regions that Russia annexed illegally in September 2022 — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — even though Moscow still does not control those areas fully. Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine abandon its plans to join NATO and accept restrictions on the size and capabilities of its military — demands Ukraine and its Western allies reject outright.

Peace Talks Under Pressure from Trump’s Deadline

This message from the Kremlin comes just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia it has 50 days to agree to a ceasefire — or face "severe tariffs" and expanded military aid to Ukraine. On July 14, Trump said that if Russia refuses, he would take economic action not just against Moscow, but also against countries doing business with it, aiming to further isolate Russia from the global economy.

Trump also pledged that "billions and billions" of dollars worth of U.S. weapons would be sent to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense systems, which Kyiv has identified as critical to protect cities from Russian drone and missile attacks.

Russia Intensifies Strikes as Diplomacy Stalls

Despite the peace talk rhetoric, Russia has been stepping up long-range drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. Analysts say that Russia used more drones in a single night recently than in some full months of 2024, showing that Moscow is likely ramping up pressure through force while keeping diplomatic options open.

Past Talks Yielded Little Progress

So far, peace negotiations have had minimal success. Direct talks in Istanbul earlier in the conflict led only to prisoner swaps, with no significant movement on the core issues. Meanwhile, Ukraine remains firm on defending its sovereignty and borders, and the West continues to back Kyiv militarily, even as political divisions rise in both Europe and the U.S.

As both sides dig in and new weapons and threats enter the picture, hopes for peace remain slim — unless one side makes a major shift, something neither appears ready for yet.