Putin's spokesman sees no path to peace talks with Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, September 23, that there are currently no prerequisites for peace talks on Ukraine, despite Russia's claimed openness to them. He was responding to a US-Ukraine call for an energy ceasefire. Peskov reiterated Russia's position, saying President Vladimir Putin has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Moscow with security guarantees, while suggesting Zelensky knows what decisions are needed, hinting at concessions on Donbas. He called a high-level meeting before expert-level work "a waste of time." Peskov also stated Putin remains ready for another meeting with US President Donald Trump, though no specifics were provided. This follows Kremlin claims of seeking "lasting peace" rather than a temporary ceasefire, while Zelensky had earlier expressed hope for negotiation results by late September.