Russia suspends peace talks efforts after Ukrainian troops' incursion into Kursk region

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia said on Monday that peace talks with Ukraine are currently impossible, citing Moscow's peace proposal and Kyiv's incursion into the western Kursk region.

"At this stage, taking into account this 'adventure' (Ukraine’s incursion into Russia's Kursk region), we will not talk to them," presidential aide Yury Ushakov said in an interview with Russian TV channel Life.

He said, "I don't know how long will be the pause before we decide we are ready to start peace talks, everything depends on the situation on the battlefield, it has its impact, particularly in the Kursk region."

On June 16, President Vladimir Putin presented Russia's peace proposal to end the “special military operation” in Ukraine and begin peace talks.

At a meeting with Foreign Ministry employees in Moscow, Putin said Russia will "immediately" cease "special military operation" if Ukraine abandons its desire to join NATO and withdraws its troops from the country's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, which have a predominantly Russian-speaking population.