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A top Russian official has announced that Russia has no desire to enter negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, citing the current situation on the battlefield.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Following Donald Trump’s victory, there has been a noticeable uptick in discussions among pundits, lawmakers, and global leaders about potential talks to end the war in Ukraine. Speculation has grown that Trump, who has expressed a desire to broker peace, might push for negotiations after his inauguration. This has spurred conversations about the feasibility of a deal, especially as Russia intensifies its military efforts to secure leverage on the ground. Ukrainian officials are still pushing for NATO membership and the return of occupied territories to begin any talks with Russia.  

What’s the deal: In an interview, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia currently sees “no grounds for negotiations” to end the war in Ukraine, noting that Moscow’s conditions for peace talks remain unmet. He reiterated that any discussions must involve recognition of Russia’s territorial claims, including its annexation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.  

Peskov acknowledged that some countries, such as China and Qatar, have expressed willingness to mediate, but he maintained that the current situation is not conducive to begin talks.

This all comes as the war in Ukraine remains extremely active, with Russian forces continuing their offensives in the eastern regions and attempting to regain positions in areas like Russia’s Kursk region following Ukraine’s surprise August counteroffensive. Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.