Ukraine — A deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is “far too complex to be done quickly,” a senior Kremlin official said Wednesday, as the U.S. pushes for progress in stalled peace efforts.
A Russian drone strike overnight on Kharkiv wounded at least 45 civilians, Ukrainian officials reported. The U.N. said civilian casualties have surged in recent weeks as Washington attempts to broker a peace deal.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin supports a ceasefire ahead of talks but insisted on resolving “many details and small nuances” before any agreement. He added Putin is open to direct talks with Ukraine without preconditions.
“We realize Washington wants quick progress, but a settlement is too complex to achieve quickly,” Peskov said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over slow progress, claiming he could end the war within 24 hours of his new term in January. He has criticized both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin for prolonging the conflict, calling it a “killing field.”
Trump has long dismissed the war as a drain on American resources. Senior U.S. officials warned that failure to make progress could lead to Washington withdrawing its mediation and ending crucial military support for Ukraine.
“We are at a point where both parties must offer concrete proposals,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying Tuesday. Without progress, “we will step back as mediators.”
Russia has effectively rejected a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, tying it to a halt in Ukraine’s mobilization and Western arms deliveries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine is now seeking an unconditional truce only because it is retreating on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the U.N. said verified civilian casualties in Ukraine totaled 2,641 in the first three months of 2025 — nearly 900 more than in the same period last year. / AP