Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations still in early stages: Kremlin

MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that achieving a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains a complex challenge requiring substantial efforts, emphasizing that negotiations are still in their early stages.

"I want to remind you that President (Vladimir) Putin certainly supports the idea of a ceasefire … This is a very complex matter and a lot of work remains to be done. We are only at the beginning of this path," Peskov told local media.

He underscored that Western nations are unlikely to swiftly lift sanctions against Russia, urging the country to pursue development under the current constraints.

Despite geopolitical tensions, Peskov said that Moscow and Washington should not allow disagreements to derail mutually beneficial cooperation.

"We can disagree on something, but it does not mean that we should let it obstruct pragmatic cooperation," he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump has recently talked with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts respectively to negotiate a ceasefire. ■