U.S. Responds to Peskov’s Statements: Criticism of Kremlin’s Delays and Calls for Dialogue
In response to the bold and often contradictory statements made by Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, representatives of the United States have reaffirmed their stance regarding the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. Donald Trump’s special advisor on Ukraine, Kit Kellogg, recently issued a sharp critique on social media, dismissing the Kremlin official’s accusations that blame Washington and Kyiv for stalling peace negotiations. Kellogg pointed out that Russia is deliberately prolonging the process by continuing shelling civilian infrastructure, thus hindering diplomatic efforts to achieve peace. He described Peskov’s comments as Orwellian and unfounded, accusing the Kremlin of spreading misinformation. Kellogg emphasized that former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed multiple times his desire to see an end to the conflict, advocates for swift ceasefire and the initiation of trilateral negotiations. "Russia must cease targeting civilian populations, and we call for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue," he stated. Recall that the second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place on June 3 in Istanbul, where both parties signed memorandums committing to ceasefire and prisoner exchanges. Under the agreements, wounded, seriously ill, and soldiers under 25, as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, were to be returned in a "6000 to 6000" format. Ukraine also submitted a list of kidnapped children for their return according to international protocols. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed intentions to initiate new discussions after the humanitarian phase and hopes for a face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Putin previously announced Russia's readiness for a third round of talks in Istanbul, though he noted differences remain regarding the memorandums, and the specific date should be coordinated by the negotiation teams of both countries.