Russia has signaled openness to peace negotiations with Ukraine, but the Kremlin insists that its core objectives must be met—chief among them, Ukrainian withdrawal from annexed territories and rejection of NATO membership. The statement came just days after President Donald Trump issued a 50-day deadline for Moscow to accept a ceasefire or face intensified economic pressure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Sunday that President Vladimir Putin seeks a peaceful settlement but emphasized that Russia’s territorial and strategic goals remain non-negotiable.
“President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible,” Peskov said in a state media interview. “The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear.”
The Kremlin’s demands include Ukraine’s withdrawal from four regions that Russia claimed in September 2022—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—but has never fully controlled. Russia also wants Ukraine to formally abandon its NATO aspirations and accept long-term restrictions on its military capabilities. Kyiv and Western allies have rejected those terms outright.
Peskov’s remarks follow a major escalation in Russia’s drone and missile strikes across Ukraine. The intensified barrage, now exceeding 300 drones in a single night, marks a sharp uptick in attacks compared to most of 2024.
In response, President Trump has taken a firmer stance toward Moscow. On July 14, he warned that failure to reach a peace agreement within 50 days would trigger sweeping tariffs aimed at weakening Russia’s global trade. He also announced expanded military support for Ukraine, including high-value weapons systems like Patriot air defense batteries.
Trump’s plan includes substantial arms sales to European allies, with the equipment earmarked for Ukraine to replenish critical supplies. This follows recent concerns from the Pentagon over dwindling U.S. stockpiles that had temporarily halted arms shipments.
Despite earlier doubts, the Trump administration now appears committed to supporting Ukraine while simultaneously pressing Moscow toward a resolution—on U.S. terms.
