Kremlin Calls Efforts To End War In Ukraine Complicated

Dmitry Peskov. (Source: Kremlin)

JAKARTA - Kremlin officials said on Tuesday efforts to reach a settlement to end the war in Ukraine were very complex and inappropriate to expect an immediate decision, on the other hand still waiting for Ukraine's response to the proposed proposal.

The Kremlin commented after Russia notified Ukraine in peace negotiations in Turkey on Monday that it would only agree to end the fighting if Kyiv handed over large parts of the new territory and accepted restrictions on the number of troops, demands that Ukraine has repeatedly rejected.

Although rejecting the proposal earlier, Ukraine said it would take time before responding to Russia officially.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday Moscow was awaiting the response and the agreement reached in Istanbul negotiations on the exchange of prisoners and the bodies of soldiers killed would be respected by Moscow.

"The completion theorem (peace) is very complicated, consisting of a large number of nuances, and you saw yesterday the text of the draft memorandum of understanding (peace) that we submitted to Ukraine," Peskov said.

"Of course, it's wrong to expect a solution and a direct breakthrough here, but work is underway, certain deals have been reached in Istanbul, and that's important."

"The agreement will be carried out and then the work will continue," Peskov said.

He further said Russia and the United States have not approved any special future contact between President Vladimir Putin and his partner from Donald Trump, but Moscow leaders are ready for various high-level contacts if well prepared.

However, Peskov added when asked, it is unlikely that President Putin, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold face-to-face talks together in the near future.

When asked if Russia was ready to compromise on one of its own proposals for settlements, Peskov declined to comment, saying negotiations should be carried out behind closed doors.