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A top Russian official has indicated that Russia is open to peace talks with Ukraine following an offer from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resume negotiations.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, President Trump recently set the clock on a 50-day ultimatum for Russia to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine, warning that failure to do so will trigger sweeping economic consequences. Under this deadline, the US plans to impose secondary sanctions targeting any country that continues to trade with Moscow, effectively isolating Russia from global markets. At the same time, Trump has authorized the resumption of advanced weapons shipments to Ukraine, routed through NATO allies. Some speculate that if Russia’s economy begins to collapse under the weight of these secondary sanctions, it could force President Putin to negotiate an end to the war—or, in a more extreme scenario, destabilize his grip on power by triggering domestic unrest or elite defections.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia remains open to peace talks with Ukraine but reiterated that any agreement must align with Moscow’s strategic objectives. “President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible,” Peskov told Russian state media, adding, “This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy. The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear.”
His comments came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a new round of negotiations, signaling Kyiv’s willingness to engage diplomatically despite the ongoing war. Zelenskyy’s offer reportedly includes a focus on accelerating prisoner exchanges and exploring avenues for a potential ceasefire. Ukrainian officials proposed holding the talks in Istanbul, which hosted two earlier rounds of direct negotiations between the two countries in May and June. While those meetings resulted in the exchange of prisoners, they failed to yield significant progress toward a broader peace agreement.
Despite acknowledging the offer, the Kremlin has not yet committed to attending new talks or setting a firm date. Russian state media confirmed that Istanbul remains a likely venue, but Peskov emphasized that any negotiations must reflect Russia’s conditions, including Ukraine’s formal recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and four partially occupied regions, withdrawal of Ukrainian forces, and not joining NATO. “Our conditions are not new,” Peskov said. “They have been made clear to both Ukraine and the international community.”
