Kremlin Says Ukraine Peace Talks Have Hit a 'Deep Pause'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are currently in a "deep pause," even as Russian troops continue advancing along the eastern front. Speaking to reporters, he said Russia's so-called "special military operation" is ongoing and that forces are achieving gains on the battlefield.

The remarks mark a shift from Peskov's statements earlier this summer, when he confirmed Russia was maintaining dialogue with U.S. negotiators. The comments came shortly after the New York Times reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow this week, reportedly aiming to press the Kremlin toward pursuing a peace deal with Ukraine.

The same week also saw a senior Vatican diplomatic envoy meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to call for peace in Ukraine. Despite this diplomatic activity, Peskov publicly downplayed prospects for renewed talks.

Strikes on infrastructure continue

Peskov said Russian forces are "intentionally destroying the Kyiv regime's military and military-adjacent infrastructure," adding that troops "know what they're doing and how to do it." His comments came a day after the chief of Russia's General Staff claimed Russian forces were nearing the heavily fortified city of Slovyansk in the Donetsk region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demand that Ukraine cede full control of the Donetsk region as a condition for any ceasefire, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Peskov said Ukraine is fully aware of Russia's demands but is unwilling to discuss them peacefully.