Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on 21 October that it is impossible to bring Russia’s war against Ukraine to a definitive conclusion without the participation of representatives from Kyiv. At the same time, he said, Moscow’s position on the proposal to cease strikes on energy infrastructure separately has not changed.
Briefly about the main points
- Peskov stated that a settlement is impossible without representatives from Kyiv.
- The Kremlin has not announced a new position on the energy truce.
- No formal bilateral agreement has been concluded to halt attacks on the energy sector.
- Vitkoff arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Putin.
What Peskov said about Kyiv’s involvement
According to «Interfax-Russia», Peskov stated that he fully It is impossible to resolve the war without the presence of «someone from Kyiv». He also said that the Ukrainian side must take the necessary political decision.
The Kremlin spokesperson did not specify exactly who Moscow is prepared to consider as a representative of the Ukrainian side. His remarks did not include any announcement regarding the format of future talks or agreement to a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Why the energy truce did not become an agreement
In response to a question about cessation of mutual attacks On the subject of energy infrastructure, Peskov stated: «Nothing has changed. We need peace, not a ceasefire.» He did not announce any new conditions or a formal decision regarding this proposal.
11 October, the US President Donald Trump claimed that «energy truce». However, neither Kyiv nor Moscow has reported that a formal bilateral agreement has been reached, setting out specific terms and a mechanism for implementation.
Zelenskyy later stated that Ukraine had refrained from striking Russian energy infrastructure for three days. The Ukrainian authorities attributed the resumption of such strikes to the continuation of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector.
Witkoff’s talks with Putin
Peskov’s comments came on the day the US President’s special representative arrived Steve Witkoff to St Petersburg. The day before, he had taken part in consultations in Oslo with Zelenskyy and the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Garr Stere, President of Finland Alexander Stubb and other partners.
The issue of resolving the war in Ukraine has been listed among the topics Vitkoff’s meeting with Putin. At the same time, Russia continued its night-time attacks on Ukraine, targeting energy facilities in particular. Earlier in October, the UN reported an intensification of attacks on energy infrastructure in the run-up to winter.
As of 21 October, no confirmed mechanism for an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia had been announced.
