Dmitry Peskov Announces a Pause in Russia-Ukraine Negotiation Efforts

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed a pause in communications between Russian and Ukrainian negotiation teams. Peskov reported that while communication channels are in place and accessible, and negotiators have the means to communicate, this communication has been temporarily halted. The two nations have engaged in three rounds of direct negotiations since May. These discussions yielded agreements including prisoner exchanges based on the ‘thousand for a thousand’ and ‘all for all’ formats, the latter focusing on the return of seriously ill and young prisoners, with an estimated minimum of a thousand from each side. Following the first two rounds of talks, Moscow transferred 6,060 bodies of deceased Ukrainian service members to Kyiv and received 78 Russian bodies. A subsequent transfer on July 17 involved 1,000 Ukrainian bodies and 19 Russian bodies. The third round of negotiations in Istanbul on July 23, included an agreement to exchange civilians alongside military personnel. Russia suggested setting up three online working groups to tackle political, military, and humanitarian matters. Furthermore, Moscow offered to transfer the remains of an additional 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers and reintroduce short humanitarian pauses along the front lines. According to Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special envoy, Ukraine seemed to aim to obstruct meaningful negotiations, employing attacks on civilian areas and public transport with the stated purpose of affecting public opinion, damaging morale, and either sabotaging negotiations or causing their complete breakdown. The most recent exchange of remains between Russia and Ukraine occurred on August 19, with 1,000 Russian bodies being transferred and 19 Ukrainian bodies received.