In a significant development regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin announced on Thursday that there are currently no direct peace talks scheduled between the two nations. This statement came almost a week after their first face-to-face meeting since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. It also follows recent comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed hope that ceasefire negotiations would commence immediately.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified to reporters that there is “no concrete agreement about the next meetings” and that further discussions are yet to be arranged. The initial two-hour dialogue held in Istanbul on May 16 resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side, marking the largest prisoner swap to date between the two nations. However, apart from this arrangement, the talks did not yield any significant breakthroughs towards a broader peace agreement.

The ongoing conflict has seen several months of increased pressure from both the United States and European nations on Russia and Ukraine to accept a ceasefire and engage in negotiations to reach a settlement. Despite these efforts, little progress has been made as Russian forces are reportedly preparing for a summer offensive aimed at seizing more territory in Ukraine, according to insights from Ukrainian government and military analysts.

During the recent discussions, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that Moscow is willing to collaborate with Ukraine on a “memorandum” that could set the foundation for a potential future peace treaty. However, he has effectively dismissed Ukraine’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, linking any possibility of a ceasefire to Ukraine’s military mobilization efforts and a halt to Western arms supplies to Kyiv. This move has drawn criticism from European leaders, who accuse Putin of stalling peace negotiations to leverage his military advantages on the battlefield.

Peskov also emphasized the complexity of the ongoing prisoner exchange process, which he described as “quite laborious” and requiring time to finalize. He noted that while the efforts are progressing, Moscow has provided Kyiv with a list of prisoners it wishes to have released but is still awaiting a counter list from the Ukrainian side.

In response to the developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that preparations are being made for the anticipated prisoner swap, which he termed “perhaps the only real result” of the recent talks held in Turkey.

Peskov further refuted a report from The Wall Street Journal that claimed Trump told European leaders following his conversation with Putin that the Russian leader is not interested in negotiations due to a belief that Moscow is winning the war. Peskov stated, “We know what Trump told Putin, we don’t know what Trump told the Europeans. We know President Trump’s official statement,” indicating a discrepancy between differing accounts of the discussions.

As the conflict continues, the situation on the ground remains tense. Both Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a persistent war of attrition along the extensive front line, which stretches nearly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and has resulted in substantial casualties on both sides. Recent reports indicate that both nations have been launching long-range drone attacks against each other almost daily, exacerbating the conflict.

On the night before the Kremlin's announcement, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that it had successfully intercepted 105 Ukrainian drones, including 35 that targeted the Moscow region. This incident marked the second consecutive night that Kyiv's forces have aimed drone attacks at the Russian capital, leading to delays for over 160 flights at three of Moscow’s four primary airports as a safety precaution.

In retaliation, it was reported that Ukraine launched 128 drones targeting various regions, including the Dnipropetrovsk area, resulting in damage to industrial facilities and private residences. No injuries were reported in Kyiv, despite debris from a Russian drone landing in a schoolyard within the city.

Further complicating the operational landscape, Ukrainian shelling in Russia’s Kursk region resulted in the death of a 50-year-old man and injuries to two others. The acting governor of Kursk, Alexander Khinshtein, cautioned residents about the ongoing dangers, highlighting that despite claims of having repelled Ukrainian forces from the area, the border region still remains vulnerable to attacks.

President Putin has emphasized the need for Russian forces to establish a “security buffer zone” along the border, which he believes will help mitigate the possibility of Ukrainian artillery strikes on Russian territory. However, specifics regarding the location and extent of this proposed buffer zone have yet to be defined.

As the situation develops, many are left wondering whether any tangible peace can be achieved amid escalating tensions and military maneuverings. The world watches closely as both nations grapple with the implications of their ongoing conflict.

For further updates on the war in Ukraine, follow AP’s dedicated coverage at