MOSCOW, March 2 - The Kremlin said on Monday that continuing peace negotiations with Ukraine was in Russia’s own interests and that Moscow still favored resolving the conflict by diplomatic means. The statement came amid signs that talks have been stalled recently by a dispute over Russia’s insistence that Ukraine hand over the portion of the eastern Donbas region Moscow does not currently control - a demand that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly rejected.
Comments from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that, despite public signs of a deadlock, Russia remains committed to the negotiating process and that its posture has not shifted. Peskov framed the continuation of talks as aligned with Russia’s priorities, saying: "We have our own interests that we must protect, and it is in our interests to continue these negotiations. We certainly remain open to these negotiations." He also reiterated that "a political and diplomatic resolution" is Moscow’s preferred way of ending the fighting.
Recent reporting has suggested an internal reassessment among some Russian officials about the value of continuing the U.S.-led negotiations. That reporting, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said Russian officials increasingly saw little reason to press ahead with the talks unless Kyiv signalled it was prepared to relinquish territory.
When asked whether potential U.S. strikes on Iran would affect the Ukrainian peace process, Peskov said Russia continued to value U.S. mediation efforts while stressing that Moscow trusts itself "first and foremost" and will act in accordance with its own interests. The comments underscore Moscow’s stated willingness to keep diplomatic channels open, even as the precise conditions for progress in talks remain contested.
Analysts and policymakers will be watching whether the positions described by Peskov translate into resumed substantive negotiation or whether the reported internal doubts among Russian officials become a factor in further slowing the process. At present, public statements from the Kremlin reiterate a preference for diplomacy, while mentioning core national interests as the guiding constraint.