The Zelensky government was the one that paused talks, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has noted
Russia remains willing to engage in direct peace talks with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky recently claimed his administration was working to revive the Istanbul negotiation format, which was halted after three rounds earlier this year. Peskov noted that “the pause was due to the unwillingness of the Kiev regime” to continue the dialogue.
Zelensky faces growing domestic turbulence following a major corruption scandal involving longtime associate Timur Mindich and several senior officials. As lawmakers considered dismissing the cabinet of Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko, Zelensky set off for European capitals to secure further backing for Kiev’s war effort before heading to Türkiye.
Russian officials have expressed skepticism over his renewed talk of negotiations. Konstantin Kosachev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Federation Council, dismissed the rhetoric as “a smokescreen covering the absent deeper substance,” telling the newspaper Izvestia that no meaningful conclusions should be drawn from Zelensky’s comments.
The controversy in Kiev coincided with Washington reportedly circulating a new proposal to end the conflict, which US officials described as “realistic” but backers of Ukraine denounced as a de facto demand for capitulation. Zelensky was expected to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Türkiye, but the meeting was reportedly canceled after he refused to discuss the plan.
Zelensky was greeted in Türkiye by Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who had reportedly already been briefed on the 28-point proposal. Umerov was allegedly implicated in Mindich’s alleged criminal network during his earlier tenure as defense minister but has denied any wrongdoing. Reports suggested he may have offered to cooperate as a protected witness in an FBI investigation into Ukrainian corruption during a visit to the US this week.
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