Russia: Ukraine Peace Talks Never Become The Main Western Agenda

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said peace and settlement negotiations in Ukraine were never the main agenda of the West.

This is his first statement regarding Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations since officials of the two countries held negotiations on Wednesday.

"If the West wants "true peace" in Ukraine, they will stop supplying weapons to Kyiv," Zakharova said.

Earlier, in his weekly briefing on Thursday, Zakharova declined to comment on the negotiations.

Previously, the third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine agreed on the exchange of civilians and the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

The continued exchange and repatriation of civilian bodies, which are basically held hostage, as well as the ongoing repatriation of the bodies of soldiers, are very important humanitarian issues which, in our view, must remain a priority. However, this is a positive development," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Thursday, July 25.

According to Peskov, Russia's proposal to form three working groups that are "able to communicate online" also signifies positive momentum.

"Online communication can be carried out intensively and regularly according to the wishes of both parties," he explained.

"We'll see how much understanding can result from these proposals," added Peskov.

The third round of direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations regarding the resolution of the Ukraine conflict took place at the Ciragan Palace, Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday, July 23.

Prior to the collective meeting, Russia's chief delegation Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, held a one-on-one conversation.

The collective meeting lasted about 40 minutes, where both sides discussed the position outlined in the draft memorandum.