Kremlin: resuming trilateral talks does not mean halting combat in Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ruled out a halt to fighting in Ukraine even if trilateral peace talks resume, Russia's Interfax reported on 26 October.

“The decision to resume trilateral talks with the participation of Russia, Ukraine and the US does not envisage any restrictions on combat operations,” Peskov said. According to him, Russian forces continue to “deliver massive and consistent strikes” on Ukraine, and “the Kyiv regime” (the Kremlin's term for Ukraine's government) continues all its corresponding actions.

Earlier statements

On 21 October Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, as European leaders urge, would mean “preserving the Nazi regime” and “a ban on the Russian language.” At the start of October Vladimir Putin said he was ready to resume peace talks as soon as possible, but on terms acceptable to Russia, speaking of the occupation of all of Donbas, Ukraine's neutral status and security guarantees for Russia.

On 24 October Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready for a deal that freezes the war on the current front line, but Ukraine will not agree to recognize that “temporarily occupied territory has become Russian.” On 26 October US House Speaker Mike Johnson said Washington plans trilateral talks to end the war. More in politics.