.jpg "Russia Sends Fresh Signal on Ukraine Peace Talks")
Russia Sends Fresh Signal on Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of Rubio-Lavrov Meeting
September 23, 2026
Russia has reiterated that it remains open to peace negotiations over the war in Ukraine, but the Kremlin says there are currently no clear conditions for restarting a formal negotiating process.
The statement came ahead of a planned meeting in New York between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow continues to support the possibility of peace talks, while indicating that significant differences remain.
Kremlin Says Conditions for Talks Are Not Yet in Place
Peskov said Russia remains open to negotiations but does not currently see the necessary conditions for moving toward a peaceful negotiating track.
The comments underline the gap that still exists between Moscow and Kyiv despite renewed diplomatic efforts involving the United States. Previous US-mediated efforts have struggled to produce a lasting breakthrough.
Rubio-Lavrov Meeting Draws Attention
The upcoming Rubio-Lavrov meeting in New York is being closely watched because Washington has been seeking ways to revive diplomatic discussions surrounding the Ukraine war.
Russia has previously said it hopes US-mediated discussions involving Russia and Ukraine can resume. However, officials have also acknowledged that progress toward a settlement has remained limited.
Zelenskyy Signals Openness to Three-Way Meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to participate in a trilateral meeting involving US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy has also raised the possibility of an energy ceasefire, under which Ukraine would halt long-range attacks against Russian energy infrastructure if Russia stopped strikes against Ukraine's power infrastructure.
Putin-Trump Meeting Also Discussed
The Kremlin has indicated that Putin could meet Trump directly if both leaders consider such a meeting necessary. At the same time, Moscow's position regarding a direct Putin-Zelenskyy meeting remains unchanged, with Russia saying that groundwork should be completed before a leaders' summit.
The latest developments show that diplomatic channels remain active, but major disagreements continue to complicate efforts toward a peace agreement.
Conclusion
Russia's latest statement comes at an important diplomatic moment as Rubio and Lavrov prepare to meet in New York. While Moscow says it remains open to peace talks, the Kremlin's comments indicate that negotiations still face substantial obstacles.
The outcome of the Rubio-Lavrov meeting could provide further indications about whether US-led diplomatic efforts can restart broader discussions involving Russia and Ukraine.