The Kremlin on Tuesday (July 1) rejected accusations from america that Moscow is intentionally delaying peace negotiations with Ukraine, at the same time as Russian forces claimed the entire seize of Ukraine’s japanese Luhansk area.
US Envoy accuses Russia of delays
US President Donald Trump’s particular envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated on Monday (June 30) that Russia was dragging its ft whereas persevering with assaults.
“Russia can’t proceed to stall for time whereas it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine,” Kellogg advised reporters.
Kremlin: “Nobody is delaying something”
Responding to the remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims and insisted Moscow had honored its commitments.
“Nobody is delaying something right here,” Peskov advised a briefing in Moscow.
“We’re naturally in favor of reaching the targets that we try to attain by way of the particular army operation through political and diplomatic means. Subsequently, we’re not taken with drawing out something.”
Peskov added that the date of the third spherical of negotiations nonetheless wanted to be agreed.
Putin open to new spherical of talks
President Vladimir Putin stated final Friday (June 27) that Russia was able to resume peace negotiations, presumably in Istanbul.
“There are massive variations between the proposals submitted by the 2 sides,” Putin stated, expressing hope that dialogue would assist slim the hole.
Russia claims full management of Luhansk
Whereas talks stay stalled, Russia has tightened its grip on the battlefield.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-installed head of Luhansk, declared on Russian state tv that the area is now absolutely beneath Russian management.
“The territory of the Luhansk Folks’s Republic is absolutely liberated — 100%,” Pasechnik stated.
The Luhansk area, which covers about 26,700 sq. kilometers, is the primary Ukrainian province to come back utterly beneath Russian management because the invasion started in February 2022.
Kyiv: Russia’s claims are unlawful
Ukraine rejected Russia’s assertions of sovereignty over Luhansk and different occupied territories.
Officers in Kyiv have pledged by no means to recognise Russia’s annexations, which Western governments additionally name unlawful.
Ukraine’s authorities maintains that the area stays a part of its internationally recognised territory.
Strategic good points and historic context
Luhansk has been a flashpoint within the battle since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and separatists seized elements of japanese Ukraine following the ouster of a pro-Russian president through the Maidan Revolution.
Russia now controls almost 19% of Ukraine, together with all of Luhansk and enormous elements of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, in addition to elements of different areas.
Moscow insists these territories will stay beneath Russian management and fall beneath its nuclear umbrella.
