Neither Russia nor Ukraine have budged from their maximalist demands

 
Attempts to disrupt the Intervision international music contest through pressure on participants have failed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"There were serious attempts to influence some participants and disrupt the contest, but they were unsuccessful," Lavrov said on Channel One.

Sergey Lavrov added that Russia welcomes interest in the Intervision contest from Western journalists and observers. "This is a wonderful event that brings together everyone who wants to stay updated and keep pace with developments in multinational, transcontinental art. We are glad to see our Western colleagues and journalists showing interest in the contest," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains interested in resolving the situation in Ukraine through negotiations and hopes to continue cooperation with the United States, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.

"Vladimir Putin, just like US leader Donald Trump, remains interested and open to bringing the entire Ukrainian issue to a peaceful conclusion," Peskov said. "We are counting on the United States and US President Trump personally to make efforts to help in this matter. Well, we'll see what comes of it," the Kremlin spokesman concluded.

European countries are doing everything possible to spike tensions in Ukraine and push Vladimir Zelensky to continue military operations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Unfortunately, on one side we have the Kiev regime, and on the other, European countries that are doing everything they can to fuel escalation. They are doing everything possible to prolong the war and encourage Zelensky to do so," Peskov told VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.

He stressed that Russia will continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. "We are counting on the United States, and on President Donald Trump personally, to make efforts to help in this matter. Well, we’ll see what comes of it," Dmitry Peskov added. On the other hand, Russian troops destroyed Ukrainian fortified positions near Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past week and reinforced previously secured lines and positions.

Russia keeps insisting on the recognition of its illegal occupation in Ukraine, on future limits to Ukraine’s military strength, and on a denial of the country’s accession to NATO. Ukraine meanwhile asks for its territory to be restored and its sovereignty – including its ability to determine its alliance arrangements – to be respected.

Developments on and around the battlefields in Ukraine don’t offer any signs that Moscow or Kyiv are ready even for a ceasefire either.There is no indication that either Russia or Ukraine have moved from their maximalist demands. Playing for time is unlikely to get either Moscow or Kyiv any closer to achieving their war aims.