Kremlin Says No Peace Plan Exists as It Rejects European Mediation in Ukraine War

In a series of statements this week, the Kremlin has made clear that it sees no near-term diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine – and that it wants France, Germany and the United Kingdom kept out of any future negotiations.

On 9 September, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that there is currently no formal plan to end the war, pushing back against earlier speculation that Moscow might be preparing a ceasefire proposal. “There is no plan as such,” Peskov said, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The remark effectively rules out the kind of detailed framework that Ukraine and its Western backers have been urging Russia to present.

The same day, Peskov claimed that Ukraine’s military and negotiating position deteriorates “with each passing day” – a phrase he first used on 8 September. While the Kremlin offered no evidence to support this assertion, it fits a broader pattern of Russian rhetoric designed to portray Kyiv as desperate and therefore more likely to accept unfavourable terms. Ukrainian officials have consistently rejected such characterisations, pointing to continued Western military aid and Ukrainian counteroffensive operations in several sectors of the front.

Beyond the negotiating posture, Moscow also signalled its disapproval of any European role in peace talks. On 8 September, Peskov stated that the Kremlin objects to the involvement of the E3 – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – in mediation efforts, again reported by Ukrainska Pravda. The objection is significant because these three European powers have been among Ukraine’s most vocal supporters and largest arms donors. By excluding them, Moscow appears to be insisting on a bilateral format with Washington and Kyiv – a format that would reduce European leverage and likely allow Russia to drive a harder bargain.

Taken together, the statements paint a picture of a Kremlin unwilling to compromise at this stage. The denial of any peace plan suggests that the war’s diplomatic track is at a standstill, while the rejection of E3 involvement signals that Russia expects the eventual settlement to be dictated rather than negotiated. For Ukraine and its allies, the immediate implication is that the fighting will continue through the autumn without a credible off-ramp.

Neither the Ukrainian government nor the E3 capitals have issued direct responses to these Kremlin remarks as of 9 September. However, officials in Kyiv have long insisted that any peace deal must be based on the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a position Moscow has repeatedly rejected. The E3, for their part, have previously expressed willingness to act as guarantors of any agreement, but Russia’s objection now casts doubt on whether they will be allowed to play that role.

Strategically, the Kremlin’s latest talking points serve a dual purpose: they signal toughness at home while testing Western unity abroad. By ruling out European mediation, Moscow may hope to weaken the transatlantic consensus that has sustained arms flows to Ukraine. However, given that the United States, the E3 and other NATO allies have repeatedly stated that nothing should be decided “about Ukraine without Ukraine,” it remains unclear whether Russia’s objection will translate into a practical change in the diplomatic landscape.

For now, the war grinds on. The Ukrainian military continues to report heavy fighting along the eastern axis, particularly around Bakhmut and Avdiivka, while Russian forces are pressing offensive operations in the south. With no peace plan on the table and the Kremlin publicly scorning the most plausible mediators, a diplomatic breakthrough appears more distant than ever.