Kremlin: No Significant Progress In Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks, Basis For Two Presidents Talks

JAKARTA - The Kremlin said peace talks between Russia and Ukraine had not made significant progress on Monday, while they served as the basis for presidential talks between the two countries.

Moscow accuses Kyiv of stopping peace talks by making proposals unacceptable to Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine said it was willing to negotiate, but would not give up or accept Russia's ultimatum.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said significant progress in talks still had to be made so that there was a basis for a possible meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"For us to talk about a meeting between the two presidents, homework has to be done. Talks have to be held and the outcome agreed," Peskov said, cited from Reuters March 22.

"There has been no significant progress so far," Peskov said.

On the occasion, Peskov also reiterated Russia's claim to show more willingness from Ukrainian negotiators to work towards an agreement on talks.

"Those (countries) who can use their influence over Kyiv to make it more accommodating and build on these talks," Peskov explained.

It is known that the Russian-Ukrainian peace talks have so far been held in person three times in Belarus, with the next round being held online up to four times but not yet yielding maximum results.

Meanwhile, a number of countries and their leaders have offered to become mediators or provide a venue for President Putin and President Zelensky's peace talks. There were Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.