**Russia Seeks Western Pressure on Ukraine for Negotiations**
The Kremlin is urging the United States and other countries to pressure Ukraine into resuming direct negotiations with Russia. This comes after US President Donald Trump announced that he would impose “severe” secondary tariffs on Russia unless Moscow agrees to end its war against Ukraine within 50 days.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the Ukrainian side has not taken seriously the words of support from Western countries for peace talks. “Many statements have been made, many words of disappointment have been spoken,” Peskov said at a press briefing on July 16. “But we want to hope that pressure is being exerted on the Ukrainian side.”
However, this statement ignores the fact that Russia launched a full-scale invasion and continues to push to occupy more Ukrainian territory. The last round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place on June 2 in Istanbul, after a previous meeting on May 16. But no agreement was reached, with Ukraine proposing a 30-day ceasefire that was rejected by Russia.
**Ukraine Seeks Direct Meeting with Putin**
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on June 26 that Ukraine seeks a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the next round of negotiations. However, Putin has so far declined to participate in person, delegating lower-level officials despite Zelensky’s expressed readiness for face-to-face talks.
This is not surprising, given that Reuters reported on July 15 that Putin remains determined to pursue the war until the West agrees to a settlement on his terms. Citing three unnamed sources close to the Kremlin, Reuters said that Putin plans to fight on in Ukraine despite Trump’s threats.
**Western Pressure Needed**
The situation on the ground suggests that Western pressure is needed for Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a peaceful resolution. The Ukrainian government has expressed its readiness for direct talks with Putin, but Russia’s rigid approach to negotiations makes it difficult to reach an agreement.
In this context, the Kremlin’s call for Western pressure on Ukraine may seem like a clever tactic to deflect attention from Russia’s own actions. However, it is essential to understand that Russia’s intentions and goals in this conflict are far from clear-cut.
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