October 16, 2026
The Kremlin accused European countries of seeking to prolong the conflict in Ukraine, warning of the possibility of obstructing US-led diplomatic efforts to reach a political settlement, amid continuing disputes over the file of frozen Russian assets.
In statements reported by the Russian Interfax agency on Wednesday, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that European countries are “working in a different direction” and are “doing everything in their power to continue this war.” Peskov pointed out that there are real risks of Europe undermining Washington’s settlement efforts, stressing that this scenario remains valid in light of the existing differences regarding the path to ending the crisis.
On the other hand, the Kremlin appreciated the moves of US President Donald Trump and the American negotiators aimed at advancing the political process, boycotting this with a European approach that the Russian side describes as opposing the path taken by the US administration.
On the financial level, Peskov re-shed light on the issue of frozen Russian assets in Europe, warning of the repercussions associated with this file, and stressing that Moscow is continuing its efforts to recover its seized funds through all available legal paths and judicial procedures.
These statements come in light of the ongoing diplomatic movement regarding the Ukrainian war, with a clear discrepancy in the terms of possible settlements and the future of Western support for Kiev, at a time when Moscow has not announced reaching any new international agreement or setting dates for anticipated negotiations.
