Russia on Wednesday dismissed accusations from Ukraine and its allies that it is deliberately slowing down peace negotiations, even as intense fighting continued on both sides, reports AFP.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was working on a set of conditions for a ceasefire but declined to offer a timeline for their release.
“Nobody is interested in dragging out this process,” Peskov said, adding that preparations are underway for a formal memorandum following recent talks in Istanbul.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of using diplomacy as a cover to prolong its offensive and seize more territory. With Russian forces holding the upper hand militarily, Zelenskyy warned that Russia is “trying to buy time.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week, said Russia would soon present its ideas for peace, but no specific details or deadlines were given.
Zelenskyy, on his part, said Ukraine had received no information on such a memorandum.
In March, Trump laid down a ceasefire proposal for a 30-day pause in fighting. However, while Ukraine accepted, Russia rejected the Western-backed plan and instead laid out tougher terms for a broader settlement.
Regardless of ongoing talks, fighting continued on Wednesday, highlighting the disconnect between diplomacy and battlefield realities.
Russia claimed Ukraine launched over 150 drones targeting its border regions and the capital, where at least three drones were shot down. Flights at several Russian airports were briefly suspended.
Ukraine said one of its drones struck a Russian defence-related factory in the Oryol region.
The facility, according to Ukrainian officials, produces microchips and control systems for tanks and missiles, many of which rely on Western technology despite sanctions.
Ukraine’s national guard in a statement on Wednesday also said a Russian missile strike killed six Ukrainian servicemen and injured at least ten others during a training session on Tuesday.
According to the statement, an internal investigation into the incident has begun, and the commander of the affected military unit has been suspended.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Russia is expected to unveil its ceasefire proposal “in a number of days,” calling it a key test of its willingness to negotiate in good faith.
“What they propose will show if they’re serious or just stalling,” he said.
The Vatican has been floated as a potential venue for future negotiations, with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying Pope Leo XIV is open to hosting peace talks.
But the Kremlin said no decision has been made regarding a location.
Meanwhile, Putin made a surprise visit on Tuesday to Russia’s border region of Kursk. It was a rare public appearance near the region since Russian forces pushed Ukrainian troops out of the area.
During the trip, Putin met with volunteer organisations and visited the Kursk-II nuclear power plant, according to the Kremlin.
Russia is also reported to have brought in troops from North Korea to strengthen its forces after Ukraine made gains in the area last year.