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Moscow remains open to negotiations over Ukraine, but will continue its military operation as long as Kyiv is urged by European capitals to keep fighting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 23. His remarks came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, underscoring that diplomatic channels between Moscow and Washington remain active.

"We remain open to the negotiation process, but in a situation where the Kiev regime is being prodded by European capitals to continue the war, we, too, are pressing ahead with our special military operation as we are observing a positive momentum for us there," Peskov said, as reported by TASS.

Coverage Comparison

TASS — English reported Peskov's statement, framing it as Moscow's continued readiness for talks amid the ongoing operation. The agency also highlighted the Lavrov-Rubio meeting as a signal of diplomatic engagement, quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry's characterization of the exchange as "a substantive exchange of views on a broad range of bilateral and international issues." TASS's coverage presented the EU's latest sanctions package as a compromise between tightening pressure on Russia and protecting the bloc's economic interests. Additionally, TASS noted Germany's authorization of nuclear fuel production based on Russian technology as evidence of continued European reliance on Russian nuclear expertise. The agency also reported that Russia's trade with Asia-Pacific countries is now conducted almost entirely in rubles and national currencies of friendly states.

Key Claims

  • Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is open to negotiations, but continues the special military operation due to the EU's encouragement of Kyiv to keep fighting.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila on July 23, with talks lasting just over 30 minutes. According to Russia's Foreign Ministry, Lavrov briefed Rubio on the situation at the line of engagement and stressed that continued arms supplies to Kyiv are unacceptable.
  • The Lavrov-Rubio meeting was described by the Russian Foreign Ministry as a substantive exchange of views, and experts interviewed by Vedomosti suggested Washington is seeking a new approach to negotiations given previous efforts' failure.
  • The European Union has approved the main provisions of a new 21st sanctions package against Russia, according to TASS reporting.
  • Germany has authorized the production of nuclear fuel based on Russian technology at its plant in Lingen.
  • Russia's trade with Asia-Pacific countries is now conducted almost entirely in rubles and the national currencies of friendly countries.