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The Kremlin has said there is no immediate prospect of resuming peace talks with Ukraine, even as it reaffirmed Russia's openness to negotiations. The statement comes amid reports of a sudden lull in US-Iran strikes and growing signs that support for Ukraine is waning in EU countries.

Coverage Comparison

Two outlets provided coverage of these developments. TASS, Russia's state news agency, focused on Moscow's firm rejection of a proposed freeze in the Ukraine conflict, while also highlighting the halt in US-Iran strikes and declining EU support for Ukraine. The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, centered its reporting on the Kremlin's stance on peace talks, emphasizing the lack of immediate prospects for resumption and the role of the US war with Iran in the stalled negotiations.

Key Claims

Kremlin's Position on Ukraine Conflict

According to The Hindu, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that there is no immediate prospect of resuming peace talks with Ukraine, though Russia remains open to the idea of negotiations. Peskov expressed gratitude for Turkey's willingness to help peace efforts but noted that no new talks were expected for now. "We are well aware of our Turkish friends' readiness to continue facilitating a shift toward a peaceful resolution of the situation surrounding Ukraine," Peskov told reporters. "We are grateful to the Turkish side for this. At the moment, however, there are no immediate prospects for resuming the negotiation process; we do not see any such signs. Nevertheless, the Russian side certainly remains open to this path."

TASS, citing Vedomosti, reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kiev's position makes freezing the Ukraine conflict impossible. This was in response to a proposal by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who suggested a freeze in the fighting based on the Istanbul agreements. Tokayev appeared to be referring to a framework based on agreements drafted during Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey in spring 2022. Under those proposals, Russia sought Ukraine's neutrality, abandonment of NATO membership plans, recognition of Russian as an official language, and an end to persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In return, Ukraine was to receive security guarantees from permanent UN Security Council members, while Moscow would not oppose Kiev's EU bid.

The TASS report also noted that Moscow has never ruled out returning to the 2022 Istanbul accords, while emphasizing the need to take changed circumstances into account. The report quoted Nikolay Silayev, a leading researcher with the Institute of International Studies at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, who suggested that Tokayev's proposal was timed due to Kazakhstan's concerns over Ukraine's strikes on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), its main oil export route.

Peace Talks History and Stalled Negotiations

The Hindu reported that nearly four and a half years into the war, front lines remain largely static while Russia and Ukraine strike each other's cities, key energy infrastructure, and attack vessels at sea. Three short rounds of peace talks took place in Istanbul in 2025, followed by two rounds in Abu Dhabi and one in Geneva with US mediation. However, negotiations on ending the Ukraine war broke off in February due to the US war with Iran.

US-Iran Strikes Lull

TASS reported that Tehran and Washington suddenly halted exchanges of strikes. The report did not provide further details on the nature or duration of this lull.

Declining EU Support for Ukraine

TASS also reported that support for Ukraine is gradually declining in EU countries. The report mentioned that Greece's parliamentary party warned the government against transferring air defense systems to Kiev, though no further specifics were provided.

Grain Harvest Forecast

Separately, TASS reported that Russia is expected to harvest 139 million metric tons of grain this year. This figure was part of the broader roundup of Russian newspaper headlines.

Perspectives

Kremlin

The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, maintains that Russia is open to negotiations but sees no immediate prospect for resuming talks. Moscow rules out freezing the conflict, citing Kiev's position, and has never ruled out returning to the 2022 Istanbul accords, though it emphasizes the need to account for changed circumstances.

Kazakhstan's President

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a freeze in the fighting based on the Istanbul agreements. His proposal, referred to as "Istanbul formula 2.0," suggests a framework derived from the 2022 talks, reflecting his concerns over Ukraine's strikes on the CPC oil pipeline.

Turkey

The Hindu reports that Turkey has expressed willingness to continue facilitating peace efforts, and the Kremlin appreciates this readiness. Turkey's role as a mediator is acknowledged, though no new talks are expected at present.