Europe has promised more air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine hours after Kyiv was hit by another barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Monday, UK defence secretary John Healey said Ukraine and its allies stand at a moment of “maximum opportunity” to bolster Kyiv for negotiations to end the war. He called on the UK and other allies to use Donald Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to start a “50-day drive” to arm Ukraine ahead of any talks.
Politico reported London and Berlin confirmed that Germany will spend €170 million in UK-led procurement of air defence ammunition for Kyiv.
The announcement comes only hours after Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, launching 450 drones and missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force.
The hours-long attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The heaviest strikes hit Kyiv's Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire. In Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district, a drone struck the entrance to a subway station where people had taken cover.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Vladimir Putin would visit Beijing for events to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in September, and said there could be a meeting with Donald Trump if he is there too.
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Key Points
- Europe promises more air defence for Ukraine
- Ukraine’s allies stand at ‘moment of maximum opportunity’ – Healey
- Russia launches 450 drones and missiles overnight, Ukraine says
- Two dead as Moscow targets sheltering Kyiv civilians with strikes on metro and school
- Next set of Ukraine-Russia peace talks planned for Wednesday in Turkey, Zelensky says
Next set of Ukraine-Russia peace talks planned for Wednesday in Turkey, Zelensky says
19:34
,
Tara Cobham
The next set of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is planned for Wednesday in Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quoted the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council as saying on Monday.
"Today I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparation for a prisoner exchange and another meeting with the Russian side in Turkey," Zelensky said in his nightly video address. "Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday. More details will follow tomorrow."
Umerov, now secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, headed the first two rounds of talks with Russia.
Russian Orthodox Church official to meet Pope Leo in Vatican, state news agency reports
19:00
,
Tara Cobham
Metropolitan Anthony, a senior cleric in the Russian Orthodox Church, was quoted by state news agency RIA as saying he would meet Pope Leo on Saturday.
The agency added, citing a source, that the meeting will take place in the Vatican.
Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican have come under strain because of the war in Ukraine. Anthony is the chairman of the church's department of external church relations.
Ukraine conducts widespread searches and arrests of anti-corruption officials
18:45
,
Tara Cobham
Ukrainian security services arrested officials from the country's main anti-corruption agency on Monday and conducted dozens of searches, in a crackdown that the agency said went too far and had effectively shut down its entire mission.
The SBU security body said it had arrested one official at the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine as a suspected Russian spy and another over suspected business ties to Russia. Other NABU officials had ties to a fugitive Ukrainian politician's banned party, the SBU said.
But NABU, which has embarrassed senior government officials with corruption allegations, said the crackdown went beyond state security issues to cover unrelated allegations such as years-old traffic accidents.
Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International said the searches showed that the authorities were exerting "massive pressure" on Ukraine's corruption fighters.
NABU said at least 70 searches had been conducted by various Ukrainian law enforcement and security agencies in connection with 15 of its employees, and that these had taken place without the approval of a court.
"In the vast majority of cases, the grounds for these actions are the involvement of individuals in road traffic accidents," the statement said, although it also added that some of the cases were about links to Russia.
Although the risk of Russian infiltration "remained relevant," this could not be a justification to "halt the work of the entire institution", NABU said in a statement.
Norway ready to fund more Ukraine air defences, PM says
18:44
,
Tara Cobham
Norway stands ready to help fund Patriot missile systems for Ukraine's air defences, Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told reporters in Berlin on Monday.
Stoere spoke at a joint press conference with German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Netherlands to make 'substantial contribution' to delivery of Patriots to Ukraine, according to reports
18:06
,
Tara Cobham
The Netherlands will make a "substantial contribution" to the delivery of US Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Monday, quoting Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans following consultations with other countries supporting Ukraine.
De Telegraaf added that what exactly the Netherlands will do remained unclear.
Zelensky names new ambassadors during Ukraine political shakeup
18:00
,
Tara Cobham
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally.
The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Zelensky launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration.
In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelensky said envoys needed to support "everything that causes Russia pain for its war".
"While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes," Zelensky said.
‘Putin wants us to panic’: How Russia has amped up its aerial strikes on Ukraine
17:04
,
Jabed Ahmed
Russian airstrikes hit Konstantinivka, damaging homes and warehouses
15:58
,
Jabed Ahmed
Russian forces have launched fresh airstrikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Konstantinivka, damaging residential buildings and warehouses but causing no casualties, local officials have said.
Sergii Horbunov, head of the city’s military administration, said two FAB-250 bombs were dropped on the city on Monday, striking at least eight sites, including warehouse premises, private homes and a car.
“Fortunately, there are no victims among the civilian population,” Mr Horbunov said, describing the attack as “another example of targeted terror against civilians.”
He also urged residents still living near the front lines to evacuate if possible, warning of ongoing danger from further strikes.
Europe promises more air defence for Ukraine
15:41
,
Tara Cobham
Europe has promised more air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine hours after Kyiv was hit by another barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), Politico reported the German defence minister Boris Pistorius said: “Together we have to stop this war machine by joining forces to support Ukraine with all our might. First and foremost, this requires us to urgently bolster Ukrainian air defense.”
Germany will spend €170 million in UK-led procurement of air defence ammunition for Kyiv, London and Berlin confirmed on Monday, according to the publication.
Ukraine’s allies stand at ‘moment of maximum opportunity’ – Healey
15:31
,
Jabed Ahmed
Ukraine and its allies stand at a moment of “maximum opportunity” to bolster Kyiv for negotiations to end the war, John Healey has said.
The Defence Secretary said the UK and other allies must use Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to start a “50-day drive” to arm Ukraine ahead of any talks, to strengthen its hand against Russia.
Speaking at the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), Mr Healey told allies gathered from 52 nations: “This is a moment of maximum opportunity.
“Last week, President Trump announced a new plan for large scale Nato weapons transfers, and committed to getting these, he said, quickly distributed to the battlefield.
“The UK backs this policy. We will play our full part in its success.”
Mr Healey added: “Alongside this new agreement to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself, President Trump also started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or to face crippling economic sanctions.
“And as members of this UDCG, we need to step up, in turn, a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and to help push Putin to the negotiating table.”
Poland readies 'how to' guide to coping in case of war
14:58
,
Jabed Ahmed
Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, officials have said.
The 40-page pamphlet, titled "Safety guide", gives advice on getting clean water, responding to air raids or blackouts and locating bomb shelters, as part of the first public awareness campaign of its kind in Poland in decades.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that the threat of a global war is serious and real, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and allegations of Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks against the West.
Russia has repeatedly denied that it engages in sabotage or cyberattacks on other countries and says it has no intention of starting a war with Nato.
"Wars are not won on the front lines. The Ukrainian example shows it very clearly," said Robert Klonowski, Polish interior ministry deputy director.
The booklet warns that during a crisis, supplies of food, medicine, and gasoline could run short, the government said.
The booklet, which will be released online in September in Polish, will later be translated into English and Ukrainian, with plans to produce a Braille and children's version, the ministry added.
The ministry plans to deliver printed copies to all 14 million households in Poland.
‘Putin wants us to panic’: How Russia has amped up its aerial strikes on Ukraine
14:28
,
Jabed Ahmed
Russia has launched fresh aerial strikes on Ukraine overnight, killing two people and injuring several others.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight, bringing the total number of strikes on the country this month to 5,402.
In response, president Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies to scale up production of air defence systems and interceptor drones to help protect against future attacks.
Russia’s aerial attack on Ukraine is the latest in a streak of record-breaking aerial attacks over the past two months. Below, The Independent looks at how, and why, Russia has decided to target Ukraine’s cities with such devastating force.
How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package
14:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
13:30
,
Jabed Ahmed
Poland prepares safety manual in case of war
13:14
,
Steffie Banatvala
Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, an interior ministry official has said.
The manual aims to strengthen national resilience amid heightened regional uncertainty including conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that the threat of a global war is serious and real, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and allegations of Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks against the West.
Ukraine needs $6 billion to close defence gap: Kyiv
13:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine needs $6 billion to close this year's defence procurement gap, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.
During an online meeting with Western allies to discuss weapons supplies to Ukraine, Shmyhal said the additional funds would allow for the production of more drones to maintain frontline defence lines, strengthen air defence, and for more deep strikes on Russia.
Russia tightens port access rules for foreign vessels: Putin decree
12:34
,
Steffie Banatvala
Foreign vessels will require permission from Russia's FSB security service to access the country's ports, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin and published on Monday.
The decree comes into force immediately.
Analysis | How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
12:27
,
Jabed Ahmed
The transformed nature of modern warfare is starkly evident to a weary Ukrainian platoon commander, medically evacuated from the front lines.
The skies above Ukraine now swarm with kamikaze, surveillance, bomber, and anti-drone UAVs.
These numerous, cheap, and deadly machines are considered by Kyiv to be a primary reason Ukraine can withstand advancing Russian forces this year and beyond, a view shared by a dozen Ukrainian commanders, officials, and arms manufacturers.
Read the full article below:
Kremlin says it doesn't rule out a Putin-Trump meeting in Beijing
11:59
,
Jabed Ahmed
The Kremlin said that it did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump if the Russian and US presidents were both in Beijing at the same time in September.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would visit China for events to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, but said Moscow had not heard if Trump planned to go.
Russia says it favours new round of peace talks with Ukraine
11:22
,
Jabed Ahmed
The Kremlin has said that Moscow was in favour of a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but the two sides' positions were diametrically opposed, so there was a lot of diplomatic work to be done.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it.
"There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far," Peskov said.
Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on 16 May and 2 June, which led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers.
But the two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.
Bulletin: Rallying cry issued to ‘force Putin to the negotiating table’
10:45
,
Jabed Ahmed
- UK Defence Secretary John Healey will urge Western allies to launch a '50-day drive' to arm Ukraine at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.
- This push aims to boost military support and compel Vladimir Putin to negotiate, aligning with US president Donald Trump's 2 September ceasefire deadline.
- Trump has threatened 'very severe' tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire is not agreed by the specified date.
- The UK has already provided £150 million in air defence missiles and artillery rounds to Ukraine in the past two months, part of a £700 million commitment for this year.
- Further aid is anticipated, with Germany and the UK agreeing to procure more air defence missiles, and the UK having delivered 50,000 drones to Ukraine.
Two people die during Russian strikes, Zelensky says
09:58
,
Jabed Ahmed
Two people have been killed and at least 15 injured – including a 12-year-old boy – after Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
In an update on Monday morning, the Ukrainian president said more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic missiles, had been fired at cities and communities across the country in waves of attacks that lasted until morning.
“There is damage in Kyiv and the region, in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk regions,” he said, adding that strike drones were also shot down over Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Poltava and Kherson.
Mr Zelensky said Russian strikes had targeted civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten and residential buildings in Kyiv, as well as ordinary houses in Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk.
“My condolences to their families and loved ones,” he wrote, urging Ukraine’s allies to scale up production of air defence systems and interceptor drones to help protect against future attacks.
“Only real pressure on Russia can stop this aggression,” he added.
Major Ukrainian drone attacks sow chaos at Moscow's airports
09:34
,
Jabed Ahmed
Major Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia sowed chaos at major airports serving Moscow on Monday, with thousands of passengers waiting in lines or sleeping on the floor after flights were cancelled or delayed, Russian media reported.
Videos published by Russian media showed people sleeping on the floor of Sheremetyevo, Russia's busiest airport by passenger numbers, amid long queues.
Russia's defence ministry said it had downed 117 drones overnight, including 30 over the Moscow region, after downing 172 drones, including 30 over the Moscow region, the previous day.
Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, briefly imposed restrictions on flights overnight at Moscow's main airports—Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovskiy.
Several thousand people were stranded in the far east of Russia due to the cancellation of flights in European Russia, while extra trains were put on to bring passengers back to Moscow from the northern Russian city of St Petersburg, Russian media said.
Moscow and its surrounding region have a population of at least 21.5 million.
Watch | Inside Russia’s suicide drone factories as Putin ramps up weapon production to pound Ukraine
08:59
,
Jabed Ahmed
Bulletin | Putin ‘ready for peace talks’ with major conditions
08:29
,
Jabed Ahmed
- Vladimir Putin is reportedly open to peace talks with Ukraine following a suggestion from Volodymyr Zelensky, though the Kremlin insists on achieving its objectives, including Ukraine's withdrawal from annexed territories and renouncing NATO membership.
- Zelensky's offer for new peace talks comes after Donald Trump set a 50-day deadline for a ceasefire or face sanctions, threatening severe tariffs on Russia's trading partners and increased US military aid to Ukraine.
- Russia launched at least 57 Iranian-made Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight, with Ukrainian forces shooting down 18; drone strikes injured two women in Zaporizhzhia and two civilians in Kharkiv.
- Ukraine conducted a drone strike across Russia, causing 140 flight cancellations and the closure of Moscow's four major airports.
- Russia's defence ministry claimed its forces shot down 93 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory, including at least 15 aimed at Moscow.
Russia launches 450 drones and missiles overnight, Ukraine says
07:58
,
Jabed Ahmed
Russia has launched 450 drones and missiles overnight, Ukraine’s air force has said.
This includes 426 Shahed UAVs and four Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, the air force said.
It downed or jammed 224 drones and missiles, while another 203 drones disappeared from radars, most likely having been jammed by electronic warfare, the air force said.
Meanwhile, Russia says it downed 74 Ukrainian drones overnight. The Russian defence ministry said 15 of these were heading towards Moscow.
Germany and UK to procure more air defence for Ukraine
07:26
,
Namita Singh
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) – a grouping of Western countries allied to Ukraine – is expected to seek further commitments later today, with Germany and the UK agreeing to procure more air defence missiles using €170m of funding from Berlin.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said it was "right" that the government "continues to provide all possible support to Ukraine".
He said: "It is also important that we stand firm alongside the United States in reinforcing their 50-day deadline to ensure Putin is under maximum pressure to pursue peace.
"That means all of our allies playing their part, and following the PM [Keir Starmer’s] recent summit with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, we hope that this 50-day drive will include German confirmation that it intends to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine."
Healey to call for ‘50-day drive’ to arm Ukraine and force Putin to negotiate
07:13
,
Namita Singh
The defence secretary will call for a "50-day drive" to arm Ukraine when he chairs a meeting of Kyiv's allies this morning.
John Healey is expected to argue that the West should again boost its military support for Ukraine in an effort to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
Donald Trump has already threatened to impose "very severe" tariffs on Russia if it does not agree a ceasefire by 2 September, 50 days on from the US president's announcement that he would sell "top-of-the-line" weapons to Nato that could then be given to Ukraine.
Later in the day, Mr Healey will use a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) to back Mr Trump's proposal and pledge that the UK will "play our full part in its success to bolster Ukraine's immediate fight".
Calling for more support from Western allies, he is expected to say: "Alongside this, the US has started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or face crippling economic sanctions.
"As members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a '50-day drive' to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force Putin to the negotiating table."
High-level talks held on support for Ukraine a week after Trump said Europe will pay for weapons
06:33
,
Namita Singh
The UK and Germany are chairing a meeting this morning to discuss president Donald Trump's plans for Nato allies to provide Ukraine with weapons, a week after the US president said deliveries would arrive in Ukraine within days.
The virtual meeting will be lead by defence secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.
Mr Healey said US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and Nato leader Mark Rutte, as well as Nato's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, will attend the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.
The talks come after Russia pounded Ukraine with some 300 drone strikes Saturday, Ukrainian officials said. Moscow continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate.
How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
05:28
,
Arpan Rai
The transformed nature of modern warfare is starkly evident to a weary Ukrainian platoon commander, medically evacuated from the front lines.
The skies above Ukraine now swarm with kamikaze, surveillance, bomber, and anti-drone UAVs.
These numerous, cheap, and deadly machines are considered by Kyiv to be a primary reason Ukraine can withstand advancing Russian forces this year and beyond, a view shared by a dozen Ukrainian commanders, officials, and arms manufacturers.
So pervasive are these remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicles that Ukrainian soldiers refer to the roughly 10-kilometre corridor on either side of the contact line as the "kill zone," where targets are swiftly spotted and neutralised by both sides.
Kyiv targeting Russian sabotage groups in eastern Ukraine, says Zelensky
05:01
,
Arpan Rai
In his latest post on social media, Volodymyr Zelensky shared an update from the Ukrainian military’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
He said Ukraine continues to target “Russian sabotage groups” in the Pokrovsk region.
He wrote: “Russia’s tactics remain the same — they are attempting to seize new positions using small groups. Ukrainian units are employing all necessary means to detect and neutralize such enemy activity.”
He also thanked forces in the border areas of the Sumy region and the effectiveness of Ukraine’s long-range strikes.
I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Our forces continue to eliminate Russian sabotage groups in the Pokrovsk and other directions. Russia’s tactics remain the same — they are attempting to seize new positions using small groups. Ukrainian units are…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 20, 2025
Tsunami warning lifted after two large earthquakes strike off coast of Russia
04:45
,
Arpan Rai
A tsunami warning has been lifted for Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula after two earthquakes struck in the sea nearby on Sunday.
The earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka at a depth of 10 km, shortly after a previous quake, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) data.
Waves of up to 60 cm had been expected to reach several parts of the region, including the capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
But Russia's state-run TASS news agency later reported that a tsunami warning for Kamchatka was also lifted, citing local emergency services.
One killed in Kyiv as Russia launches drones and missiles
04:41
,
Arpan Rai
Russia launched a fresh barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine in an overnight attack on Monday, killing at least one person and causing multiple fires in the capital Kyiv, city officials said.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers and medics were working on sites across four districts of the capital. A subway station in central Kyiv, commercial property, shops, houses and a kindergarten were damaged, city officials said.
In another tense and sleepless night for Kyiv residents, many rushed to take shelter in underground stations. Explosions were heard across the city as air defence units engaged in repelling the attack.
Oleh Synehubov, the governor of the Kharkiv region, reported multiple explosions in Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, but gave no immediate details on the damage.
Up to 140 flights cancelled and Moscow airports closed after drone attacks
04:36
,
Arpan Rai
At least 140 flights have been cancelled and Moscow’s major airports were closed after Ukraine launched a drone strike on Russia.
The four major airports serving the capital were disrupted and more than 130 flights also had to be redirected, according to Russia’s Association of Tour Operators.
More than 230 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russia since Saturday morning, including 27 over the capital, according to the Russian defence ministry.
According to Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia, four major airports serving Moscow - Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovskiy - were affected, resulting in 134 flights being redirected.
By 10pm Moscow time, only two airports remained closed to air traffic – Vnukovo in the Moscow region and Grabtsevo in the Kaluga region.
Kremlin says Russia is open to peace with Ukraine but wants to achieve its goals
04:29
,
Arpan Rai
Russia is open to peace with Ukraine but achieving its goals remains a priority, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov yesterday, days after US president Donald Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions.
"President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy," Mr Peskov told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.
"The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear," he added.
The Kremlin has insisted that any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022, but never fully captured.
It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join Nato and accept strict limits on its armed forces — demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected.