Overview
- Russian Foreign Ministry official Alexey Polishchuk told TASS that Moscow is ready to restart direct talks in Istanbul and said the ball is in Ukraine’s court.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that because negotiations are on hold, Russia will continue its special military operation and warned Ukraine will have to negotiate from a weaker position.
- Ukrainian officials and advisers dismissed the signals from Moscow as pressure tactics, citing reported ultimatum-style demands that include territorial concessions and reparations.
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow hopes Washington under President Donald Trump will avoid steps that escalate the conflict and added Russia remains prepared for a Budapest summit.
- Peskov acknowledged a British backchannel contact that “did not develop,” Turkey has reiterated its offer to host, and the last direct meeting in Istanbul on July 23 ended after 40 minutes without progress.