Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to work toward peace in Ukraine, but the process won’t move as quickly as the United States would like, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin still prefers diplomacy and wants a political solution to the war, now in its fourth year.
However, Peskov stressed that Russia’s main goals in Ukraine must still be achieved — though preferably without more fighting.
He added that Putin has shown interest in direct talks with Ukraine, but so far, Kyiv has not responded. “We haven’t heard anything from Kyiv yet, so we don’t know if they’re ready to talk,” Peskov said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal about his desire to end what he calls the “bloodbath” in Ukraine. His administration describes the conflict as a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia.
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Trump recently said he believes Putin wants to end the war, but claimed that without him in office, Russia might have tried to take over all of Ukraine.
Peskov acknowledged that Washington is pushing for a fast resolution, but said the roots of the conflict are too deep for any overnight peace deal. He suggested that real progress will take time and patience from all sides.
The war began in early 2022 when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. It quickly became one of the most dangerous standoffs between Russia and the West since the Cold War, even drawing comparisons to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
While Trump has avoided clear answers on whether the U.S. would continue military aid if peace talks stall, Peskov’s remarks suggest Moscow sees diplomacy as a long game — not something that can be rushed.
