Russia says it has no plans to resume negotiations with US and Ukraine
Russia does not plan to resume trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and the United States on ending the war anytime soon. Moscow claims that there are currently no agreements to hold new meetings, despite the previously discussed possibility of continuing the negotiation process in October.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said this on October 8, The Moscow Times reports.
“We currently have no relevant plans to hold contacts in that format. What happens next is not up to us,” Ryabkov said.
The Russian diplomat placed responsibility for the lack of negotiations on the Ukrainian side. At the same time, he claims Moscow remains open to diplomatic contacts.
Moscow refuses to confirm October talks
Ryabkov’s statement contradicts the Kremlin’s earlier expectations regarding a possible resumption of trilateral talks as early as October.
In September, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow expected a new meeting with representatives of Ukraine and the US in the foreseeable future and did not rule out holding it in October.
Head of the Office of the Ukrainian President Kyrylo Budanov also previously reported the possibility of continuing negotiations this month.
However, the Russian side now says there are no concrete plans to organize the next round.
As recently as September 25, Vladimir Putin claimed that proposals to resume negotiations remained in force. However, he linked further decisions to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
US acknowledges lack of progress toward a settlement
Earlier on October 8, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Russia's war against Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and prospects for its diplomatic conclusion are not yet visible.
According to Rubio, prolonging the conflict creates a risk of further escalation that could potentially affect other states.
The head of American diplomacy also stressed that Washington remains ready to facilitate a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
The administration of US President Donald Trump attempted to relaunch the negotiation process in autumn 2026.
In September, US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv to discuss possible terms for a settlement.
However, according to the Financial Times, they failed to achieve substantial convergence of positions.
One of the main obstacles remains the territorial issue. Russia continues to demand the transfer of the entire Donbas territory, while Ukraine rejects such conditions.
New US sanctions complicate negotiation process
Additional strain in relations between Washington and Moscow arose after the adoption of a US law providing for increased sanctions pressure on Russia.
After its signing, Dmitry Peskov said the new restrictions complicate efforts to reach agreements on ending the war.
A Kremlin spokesman later said Russia sees no prerequisites for moving toward a peaceful settlement, although it formally remains ready for talks.
Moscow also opposes limited ceasefire agreements, including temporary truces and separate arrangements on the security of energy infrastructure.
According to the Russian authorities, any possible agreement should provide for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
Previous negotiations took place early this year
In 2026, Ukraine, Russia and the US already held trilateral meetings devoted to a possible end to the war.
Two rounds of negotiations were held in Abu Dhabi and one in Geneva in January and February.
The United Arab Emirates and Switzerland subsequently confirmed their readiness to again provide venues for diplomatic contacts.
However, the negotiation process did not lead to an agreement to cease hostilities.
Amid the diplomatic impasse, Russia continues to launch massive strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure facilities.
According to Bloomberg, the Russian leadership did not show readiness to soften its negotiating demands. Instead, Moscow stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid and heat supply, seeking to increase pressure on Kyiv ahead of the winter period.
Ryabkov’s October 8 statement means that the previously discussed timeframes for resuming trilateral negotiations remain uncertain. A new date for delegations to meet has not yet been agreed.
Based on materials from: The Moscow Times, Report on previous Kremlin statements.
