Russia Says Ukraine Peace Talks Will Take Time \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Kremlin said Monday that peace negotiations with Ukraine remain a “drawn-out process,” signaling reluctance to embrace U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a ceasefire. Tensions rose after Trump criticized Vladimir Putin for questioning Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s legitimacy. Despite diplomatic pressure, both nations continue to prepare for another phase of intense military conflict.
Russia-Ukraine War Talks – Quick Looks
- Kremlin calls peace efforts “a drawn-out process”
- Trump frustrated by Putin’s rejection of Zelenskyy’s legitimacy
- Russia rejects full 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S.
- Kremlin places strict conditions on partial Black Sea truce
- Trump vows to pressure Moscow with more sanctions, tariffs
- Russia drafting 160,000 conscripts for military service
- Ukraine reports ongoing daily Russian strikes across cities
- Kharkiv hit by drone attacks; three civilians injured
- Russia intercepts 66 Ukrainian drones over three regions
- EU officials accuse Russia of “playing games” with peace talks
Deep Look
Russia downplayed prospects for a swift peace deal with Ukraine on Monday, dismissing recent U.S. efforts to broker a truce as premature and politically complex. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the process as “drawn-out” and without any breakthroughs to announce, further dampening hopes of a near-term end to Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II.
“We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing,” Peskov told reporters. “But there is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce.”
His comments came just one day after President Donald Trump expressed visible frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of undermining peace prospects by questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s legitimacy. Trump reportedly said he was “angry, pissed off” at the Russian leader’s dismissive rhetoric.
Although Peskov avoided addressing Trump’s criticism directly, he reiterated that Putin remains open to dialogue and willing to speak with Trump.
U.S. Push for Ceasefire Hits Resistance
The Biden-Trump transition in U.S. foreign policy toward Russia included a proposed 30-day halt in hostilities, aimed at creating space for formal peace talks. However, Russia rebuffed the offer, especially concerning a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea, where both Ukraine and Russia rely on shipping corridors for grain, fuel, and cargo.
Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions that made implementation nearly impossible, U.S. officials said privately. These developments appear to contradict Trump’s campaign promise to “end the war in 24 hours” if re-elected—a vow he has repeated multiple times since returning to office.
In response to Russia’s intransigence, Trump floated the idea of increasing economic pressure on Moscow, potentially through expanded sanctions or oil export tariffs.
War Grinds On Despite Diplomatic Overtures
On the battlefield, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday that Russia continues to launch daily and nightly strikes across multiple regions.
“The geography and brutality of Russian strikes show that Putin couldn’t care less about diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said. “Almost every day, in response to peace proposals, there are drones, bombs, and missile attacks.”
One such attack occurred overnight in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, where three civilians were injured in a Russian drone strike, according to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 131 Shahed drones and two ballistic missiles overnight. In turn, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 66 Ukrainian drones over three regions.
Moscow said the continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure showed Kyiv’s disregard for diplomacy and accused the Ukrainian government of sabotaging peace negotiations.
Spring-Summer Offensive Looms
As diplomatic maneuvering stalls, both sides are preparing for a renewed spring-summer campaign. On Monday, Putin signed an order for a routine military draft, calling up 160,000 conscripts for one year of compulsory service.
While Russian officials insist that conscripts are not deployed to the frontlines, previous incidents suggest otherwise. Some draftees were reportedly captured by Ukrainian forces during a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August.
Meanwhile, NATO and Ukrainian intelligence sources suggest that Russia may be preparing for renewed offensives in the Donbas region and along southern front lines, possibly to consolidate control over occupied areas before any formal negotiations begin.
EU: Russia “Not Serious About Peace”
Speaking from a gathering of top EU diplomats in Madrid, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed Ukraine’s position, saying that Russia is merely stalling and “playing games” rather than sincerely pursuing peace.
“So our question is, how can we put more pressure on Russia,” Kallas said, urging tougher sanctions and increased military aid to Ukraine.
While the international community urges diplomacy, the actions on the ground tell a different story, with escalating strikes, continued conscription, and hardened rhetoric on both sides.
With the conflict now in its third year, and peace talks stalling over irreconcilable demands, the path forward remains fraught. For now, Trump’s ambition to bring about a quick resolution appears to be colliding with the geopolitical and military realities on the ground.
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