rki.news
MOSCOW, July 1 — Russia is not deliberately stalling negotiations with Ukraine and remains committed to resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic channels, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Responding to recent remarks by U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who accused Russia of “stalling while bombing civilian targets” Peskov emphasized that Moscow is actively working to implement outcomes from previous negotiation rounds. “Nobody is stopping or slowing down the process,” he said, adding that the nature of the agreements requires time to execute.
Peskov referred to the first two rounds of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, held on May 16 and June 2 in Istanbul. These discussions resulted in agreements on humanitarian issues, including an “all-for-all” exchange involving seriously ill and wounded prisoners, soldiers under the age of 25, and the return of fallen soldiers’ remains.
He acknowledged that logistical and procedural challenges make rapid implementation difficult but stressed that progress is ongoing. “Objectively, it is difficult to talk about strong acceleration,” he noted.
President Vladimir Putin previously stated that a third round of talks will take place once the agreed exchanges are completed, signaling continued diplomatic engagement between the two sides.
The Kremlin’s statement comes amid mounting international scrutiny over the pace and sincerity of Russia’s negotiating efforts. Moscow maintains that its objectives can be achieved without further escalation if mutual agreements are respected and implemented in good faith.