Moscow remains open to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict but hostilities will continue for as long as Kiev continues to stall negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

He was responding to French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently warned in a post on X that Russia would “have to pay the price” if it refused to demonstrate a readiness to come to the negotiating table.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Peskov stressed that Moscow has always preferred a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but noted that Kiev, with the backing of its Western allies, continues to reject all of Russia’s proposals.

“Russia is ready for a peaceful settlement,” Peskov said, emphasizing that Moscow’s military campaign continues “due to the lack of alternatives.” He asserted that Russia will ultimately accomplish its stated objectives and safeguard its national security interests.

His comments come ahead of an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, reportedly scheduled for Friday in Washington.

Peskov said Russia appreciates Trump’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully and hopes that “the US influence and the diplomatic skills of President Trump’s envoys will help encourage the Ukrainian side to be more proactive and more prepared for the peace process.”

Russia has consistently reiterated its readiness for peace talks with Ukraine. Both sides were close to reaching an agreement in Istanbul in early 2022, but, according to Moscow, Kiev withdrew after its Western backers encouraged it to continue fighting.

Russian officials have since maintained that neither Kiev nor its European backers are genuinely interested in ending the hostilities, accusing them of stalling negotiations by presenting ever-shifting conditions and disregarding its proposals.