Kremlin reacts to Ukrainian complaints over peace proposal
Ukraine's demands that Russia 'immediately' delivers its draft roadmap for ceasefire talks are undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Delegations from both countries are expected to meet soon to discuss their respective proposals for a truce. Moscow yesterday proposed a meeting in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the drafts.
In response, Ukrainian officials criticized Moscow for not sharing its document ahead of time, accusing Russia of stalling the talks process.
'Demanding [to see the Russian document] immediately is just unconstructive. They should either confirm they are prepared for talks or say otherwise,' Peskov told reporters on Thursday during a regular briefing.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Kiev's lead negotiator, said on Wednesday that he had already sent Ukraine's draft to Moscow and claimed Russia was delaying its response. Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga echoed the sentiment, insisting Russia should 'immediately submit their proposals for our consideration.' Umerov also repeated Ukraine's call for 'a full and unconditional ceasefire.'
Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, said on Wednesday that he had contacted Umerov to finalize the date and venue for an exchange of memorandums. The next round of talks would also involve 'substantive discussion of each point of the package agreement on a future ceasefire,' he added.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later confirmed that Moscow's document is ready, ahead of a proposed resumption of talks, sparking the complaints from Kiev.
Peskov said that Kiev had yet to formally confirm participation in the meeting.
Ukrainian officials previously insisted upon a 30-day pause in hostilities as a precondition for negotiations. Russia rejected the proposal, arguing it would give Kiev time to regroup militarily. Ukraine later revised its position after the administration of US President Donald Trump stated that it saw direct Russia-Ukraine talks as the next logical step toward a peace settlement.
While pursuing diplomacy, Ukraine has also urged its Western backers to impose additional sanctions over Russia's refusal to accept an immediate ceasefire and has also intensified long-range strikes inside Russian territory.
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