Putin's administration comes up with yet another absurd excuse to avoid peace talks with Ukraine
Photo: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has come up with yet another excuse to avoid peace talks with Ukraine. In particular, it was claimed that Ukraine is supposedly being "encouraged to continue the war," according to a statement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to Russian propaganda.
Commenting on Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement about halting peace talks with Russia due to their complete ineffectiveness and Kremlin sabotage, Putin’s spokesperson responded with absurd claims.
In particular, Peskov stated that European countries are supposedly "encouraging Ukraine to continue the war," while the US, he claimed, is "inclined to maintain a pause."
The Russian President’s press secretary also complained that Ukraine supposedly "does not want to talk about anything." However, according to Peskov, the Kremlin is "open to continuing the negotiation process" — though, he lamented, this process "cannot be conducted alone."
Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya stated on November 12 that peace talks with Russia this year ended almost without results, which is why they have now been suspended.
Overall, Ukraine and Russia held three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year — in May, June, and July 2025. However, the Kremlin not only refused to agree to a ceasefire: after the second round of talks, Russia sent Ukraine a so-called memorandum containing a series of ultimatums.
Kyslytsya later emphasized that during the Istanbul talks, Russia had no intention of discussing peace. Instead, Kremlin allies denied Ukrainian identity, suggested creating WhatsApp chats, and compiled dossiers on each member of the Ukrainian delegation.
