Ukraine's presidential office, Kremlin react to media reports on Ukraine-Russia talks

Аccording to the Financial Times, Kyiv is pushing to revive negotiations under Qatar's mediation. In August, they were reportedly close to a deal, but talks stalled after Ukraine's operation in Russia's Kursk region, sources, including high-ranking officials, disclosed.

There are very preliminary talks about possibly renewing an agreement. Right now, discussions are focused on energy facilities, said an official, speaking anonymously.

A diplomat noted that Moscow and Kyiv have already scaled back the frequency of attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks as part of a mutual understanding reached by their intelligence services.

However, Putin is unlikely to commit to a formal deal until the Russian army forces Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, where they still control around 600 square kilometers of territory.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that Ukraine intends to keep targeting sites within Russia, including oil refineries, as leverage in negotiations.

Four Ukrainian officials shared that last fall, Kyiv and Moscow reached an informal understanding to avoid strikes on each other's energy facilities. This led to Russia holding off on large-scale attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure that winter. The goal was to build toward a formal agreement, sources said.

However, in February and March this year, Kyiv resumed drone attacks on Russian oil facilities, aiming to pressure Moscow after the unsuccessful 2023 counteroffensive. Despite White House warnings to halt these strikes, Kyiv pushed ahead, leading Moscow to perceive the informal truce as broken, sources added.

President's Office reaction

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, told RBC-Ukraine that there are no negotiations with Russia, and the occupying army will continue to terrorize the civilian population because Russia “does not know how to fight any other way.”

“This is the fourth time I’ve heard claims that negotiations are happening with Qatar’s mediation to stop attacks on energy facilities. Once again, these are just anonymous sources. It seems they know everything, but the reality is different,” Podoliak said.

What Kremlin says

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian dictator, also denied any negotiations with Ukraine.

“There are many claims right now that are not based in reality. Even major publications are spreading these falsehoods,” Interfax quoted him as saying.

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