Recent reporting indicates that Moscow, using intermediaries, is signaling a willingness to engage with the West on talks about the Ukraine conflict, including a possible ceasefire. The disclosures come from New York Times sources described as having close access to Kremlin circles.
According to the coverage, the Kremlin is prepared to suspend active fighting while keeping its existing positions intact. One insider suggests that Russia has no intention of retreating even a single meter on core objectives.
Intentional signals, the report notes, have reportedly continued since September as part of what is described as behind‑the‑scenes diplomacy.
Western officials reportedly fear that Kyiv may reject any agreement or that Moscow’s approach could amount to an attempt to mislead rather than to reach a genuine settlement.
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, indicated that Vladimir Putin would consider negotiations only if they could advance the aims of the current military operation in Ukraine.
At one point, Putin himself has referenced a concept of a central authority within Russia in a manner that some observers interpreted as a joke about the country’s top leadership structure, highlighting the caustic tone sometimes present in public discourse about governance and decision making.