Overview
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said communication channels with Kyiv remain in place but described the negotiations as being on a pause.
- Moscow accused European countries of obstructing progress, pointing to security proposals that could place NATO forces in Ukraine, which Russia says it will not accept.
- Three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year, most recently on July 23, produced prisoner and remains exchanges but no roadmap for a settlement.
- The pause coincides with heightened military activity, including Russia’s largest aerial strikes of the war, joint drills with Belarus, and drones that Poland says violated its airspace this week.
- President Donald Trump said his patience with Vladimir Putin is running out fast and threatened tougher measures on banks, oil and tariffs after efforts to broker a deal yielded no breakthrough.