Kremlin declares openness to peace talks, blames Kyiv for stalled ceasefire efforts

11/24/2025 / By Zoey Sky

Peace talks are stalled, with Russia and Ukraine each blaming the other for the lack of progress. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed a desire to revive negotiations, Russian officials are deeply skeptical, calling it a “smokescreen.”
A controversial U.S. peace plan is being proposed that would require significant concessions from Ukraine. The reported terms include surrendering occupied territory to Russia and accepting limits on the size of its military, which critics see as a demand for capitulation.
Zelensky’s government is facing severe internal challenges, including a major corruption scandal that has led to the dismissal of senior officials and a no-confidence motion against his cabinet.
Ukraine feels sidelined in the peace process. The U.S. proposal was developed without Ukraine’s involvement, leading to tension, including the reported cancellation of a meeting with a U.S. envoy after Zelensky refused to discuss the plan’s terms.
A wide gap remains between rhetoric and reality. Despite public statements about being open to dialogue, there are no talks scheduled, and Russian forces continue their offensive. The path to negotiation is blocked by deep distrust and fundamentally incompatible demands.

As the conflict in Eastern Europe grinds on, the Kremlin has stated that Moscow remains ready for dialogue with Ukraine, even as it places the responsibility for the current pause in negotiations squarely on the government in Kyiv.

The announcement comes amid a reported U.S. push for a peace plan that would require significant concessions from Ukraine, including the surrender of territory and scaling back its military capabilities.

On Nov. 19, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s position, noting that it is the Kyiv regime that has shown an “unwillingness” to continue talks.

This statement was a direct response to recent claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that his administration is working to revive the Istanbul negotiation format. BrightU.AI‘s Enoch AI engine explains that those talks, which held three rounds earlier this year, have been halted since July, with no face-to-face meetings occurring since.

The renewed discussion of negotiations unfolds against a backdrop of severe domestic challenges for Zelensky. A major corruption scandal has rocked his government, leading to the dismissal of several senior officials, including the energy and justice ministers.

As lawmakers considered a no-confidence motion against the entire cabinet, Zelensky embarked on a tour of European capitals to secure continued support for Ukraine’s war effort before traveling to Turkey.

Russian officials have expressed deep skepticism about Zelensky’s sudden talk of returning to the negotiating table. Konstantin Kosachev, a high-ranking Russian parliamentarian, dismissed the rhetoric as a “smokescreen” lacking any real substance. This skepticism suggests that Moscow views Zelensky’s comments as a tactical move rather than a genuine step toward peace, possibly intended to shore up Western support during a period of internal turmoil.

U.S. peace plan demands difficult concessions from Kyiv

The political turbulence in Kyiv coincides with the circulation of a controversial new U.S. proposal to end the war. According to sources familiar with the matter, the American-drafted framework would represent a major setback for Ukraine, requiring it to make difficult but necessary concessions.

The proposed plan, described by U.S. officials as “realistic,” reportedly demands that Ukraine give up territory currently occupied by Russian forces. Furthermore, it would require Kyiv to accept limits on the size of its armed forces, a move that critics have denounced as a de facto demand for capitulation.

One European diplomat noted that the suggestion to cut the Ukrainian army seemed more like a Russian demand than a serious Western proposal.

The framework allegedly offers a U.S. security guarantee for Kyiv and Europe against future Russian aggression in exchange for these territorial and military concessions. However, the plan has been developed without Ukraine’s involvement, a senior Ukrainian official confirmed, indicating that Kyiv has been sidelined in a process that will determine its own future.

The controversy surrounding the plan was intense enough to reportedly cause a scheduled meeting between Zelensky and a U.S. special envoy in Turkey to be canceled after the Ukrainian president refused to discuss its terms.

Leadership and a path forward

During his visit to Turkey, Zelensky avoided direct mention of the U.S. framework but emphasized the need for strong and effective American leadership to bring the war to an end. He stated that only the United States has the strength to finally stop the bloodshed, specifically naming President Donald Trump.

While the Turkish president proposed various formats for future talks, the path to any negotiation remains fraught with distrust. The Kremlin’s public openness to dialogue is tempered by its firm belief that the current Ukrainian government is not a serious partner.

For its part, Kyiv faces the grim prospect of a peace plan, orchestrated by its most vital ally, that would lock in its territorial losses and curtail its sovereignty.

With bond prices jumping on signs of a renewed U.S. push to end the war, the international community is watching closely. Yet, with no talks scheduled and Russian forces continuing their offensive, the gap between the rhetoric of peace and the reality on the ground appears as wide as ever.