Kremlin says Ukraine must show political will to pursue peace talks

Russian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on October 11 that Moscow is prepared for peace negotiations with Ukraine, but requires evidence of political will from Kyiv to acknowledge current realities and move toward settlement. Speaking to journalist Pavel Zarubin, Peskov characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as currently incapable of deliberate action, claiming that rational leadership would demonstrate willingness to engage in dialogue. Peskov contrasted this assessment with what he described as Ukraine's current approach: requesting increased military funding for air defense and long-range weapons, expanding access to Starlink infrastructure for strikes deeper into Russian territory, and continued military operations. The Kremlin spokesman described Ukrainian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Russia as a tragic error, stating that countries which behave this way toward Russia face consequences. He emphasized that Moscow's condition for negotiations centers on demonstrating political will to recognize existing circumstances rather than on specific individuals.