Russia pledges to press Ukraine war to total victory as talks linger

Russian Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia will continue its Special Military Operation in Ukraine until a total victory if there are no realistic prospects for peace. He stated, “In the absence of any peace prospects we will go to the end, to total victory,” while noting that political and diplomatic solutions remain a priority for Moscow.

Kremlin media also emphasized the maximalist war aims, citing President Vladimir Putin’s June 2024 speech and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s claim that the United States has not rejected Russian proposals from the earlier Anchorage talks. U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio confirmed that no agreement was reached, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic stalemate as Russia downplays its own economic difficulties.