News Feed

After rejecting ceasefire, Russia calls on West to 'pressure' Ukraine toward negotiations

2 min read
After rejecting ceasefire, Russia calls on West to 'pressure' Ukraine toward negotiations
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on the sidelines of the Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow on April 25, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov / Getty Images)

Russia is calling for the U.S. and other countries to pressure Ukraine into resuming direct negotiations after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would impose "severe" secondary tariffs on Russia unless Moscow agrees to end its war against Ukraine within 50 days.

"Many statements have been made, many words of disappointment have been spoken, but we want to hope that pressure is being exerted on the Ukrainian side,"  Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing on July 16.

"It now appears that the Ukrainian side perceives all words of support not as a signal for peace, but a signal for the continuation of war," Peskov said. The remark ignores the fact that Russia launched the full-scale invasion and continues to push to occupy more Ukrainian territory.

The last round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place on June 2 in Istanbul, after a previous meeting on May 16, following more than three years of no direct negotiations.

Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia rejected the offer and instead pushed for a 2–3-day local truce to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. No agreement was reached.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on June 26 that Ukraine seeks a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the next round of negotiations.

Putin has so far declined to participate in person, delegating lower-level officials, despite Zelensky's expressed readiness for face-to-face talks and mounting pressure from the U.S.

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya earlier told the Kyiv Independent that the Istanbul meetings couldn't truly be called negotiations due to Russia's rigid, ultimatum-like approach.

Citing three unnamed sources close to the Kremlin, Reuters reported on July 15 that Putin remains determined to pursue the war until the West agrees to a settlement on his terms.

‘Call the Ayatollah’ — Senator Graham warns Putin as he backs Trump’s 50-day Russia ultimatum
“If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and others are wondering what happens on day 51, I would suggest they call the Ayatollah,” Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X.
Article image
Avatar
Tim Zadorozhnyy

News Editor

Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.

Read more
News Feed

"It is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries around the world, including Russia," China's Foreign Ministry said in response to question about Russian oil purchases posed by Bloomberg. "We will continue to adopt reasonable energy security measures in accordance with our national interests."

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that "further details will follow."

Video

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, foreigners flocked to Ukraine to join its defense against Russian forces. More than three years later, the foreign fighters who remain are a different breed — driven by a deep commitment to Ukraine.

Show More