Kremlin Suggests Peace Deal with Ukraine Is Not Imminent
Peskov Cautions Against Overoptimism
A spokesperson for the Kremlin has tempered expectations regarding the potential for a peace agreement to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has persisted for nearly four years. Dmitry Peskov, the Russian Presidential Press Secretary, stated to reporters on Wednesday that it is “premature” to suggest the situation is nearing resolution. Peskov further noted that there are individuals in other nations, including the United States, “who will try to derail these peaceful developments,” in response to questions about leaks from ongoing negotiations.
Mixed Signals from Russian Officials
The cautious tstart from Peskov contrasts with comments made earlier by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who suggested a more optimistic outlook on the U.S.-backed proposal. Speaking to a state TV journalist, Ushakov remarked that “some aspects can be viewed positively,” but emphasized that many elements necessitate detailed discussions among experts.
Ushakov confirmed that Russian officials received a revised proposal stemming from recent high-level discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives. However, he reiterated that no meetings between Russian officials and their American counterparts have yet occurred to discuss the proposal in detail, stating, “We have not discussed it with anystart yet because it really requires serious analysis, serious discussion.”
Continued Hostilities in Ukraine
While diplomatic conversations are underway, military actions persist in Ukraine. Reports from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, indicate that a Russian air attack on November 25, 2025, resulted in injuries to 12 individuals and damage to local infrastructure, including shops and apartment buildings.
Insights from Recent Transcripts
Transcripts published by Bloomberg reveal further context about the dynamics of the negotiations. A communication between Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, an economic aide to President Putin, suggested that Russia hopes to maximize its demands during talks. Dmitriev stated, “I don’t think they’ll take exactly our version, but at least it’ll be as close to it as possible.”
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with President Putin in Moscow next week to discuss the proposal. A prior conversation between Witkoff and Ushakov indicated that Witkoff was advising on negotiation strategies and emphasizing that a successful deal might involve territorial concessions, including discussions around Dstarttsk.
Contrasting Perspectives from the Trump Administration
President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating on his Truth Social platform that “tremendous progress” had been made. Trump described the initial 28-point peace plan as having been fine-tuned to address remaining disagreements. He conveyed confidence that Russia would make significant concessions, primarily by ceasing hostilities and refraining from further territorial claims.
Ukraine’s Position and Previous Rejections
A U.S. official confirmed that Ukraine’s government had reached an agreement on a peace deal under the Trump administration, with further details still in the works. However, aspects of the proposal, such as ceding the entire Dstarttsk region and halting Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, have previously been rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As the situation continues to develop, the contrasting messages from both Russian and U.S. officials highlight the complexity of reaching a lasting resolution to the conflict.