Russia has warned against expecting quick breakthroughs in peace talks with Ukraine, calling the situation “extremely complex” and full of “nuances.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the statement Tuesday, a day after Moscow rejected Kyiv’s call for an unconditional ceasefire during negotiations held in Istanbul.
Though the short talks saw both sides exchange memorandums and agree on a major prisoner swap, their core demands remain far apart. Moscow insisted Ukraine must withdraw from four regions it claims to have annexed before halting its offensive, while Kyiv demanded a complete and unconditional truce. Russia instead proposed a limited ceasefire lasting two to three days in certain frontline areas.
Peskov also dismissed the possibility of a near-term summit between the presidents of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. While U.S. President Donald Trump has said he’s open to the idea, the Kremlin maintains such a meeting can only take place after progress is made at the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, fighting on the ground intensified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians in a rocket strike on Sumy, near the Russian border, which killed at least three people. Moscow claimed to have captured a village in the same region, and Ukraine reported additional casualties in Kharkiv. Zelensky renewed calls for stronger Western support and tougher sanctions on Moscow.
In a related development, Ukraine’s security service said it struck a support pillar of the Crimean bridge with an underwater drone. Traffic resumed after a brief closure, but the extent of damage remains unclear. At the same time, senior Ukrainian officials arrived in Washington for high-level talks focused on defence aid and economic sanctions.