Moscow: The Kremlin on Tuesday expressed optimism that the forthcoming round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks will occur this week. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, addressing reporters in a press briefing, stated that an announcement regarding the timing will be made once they are ready.

According to Anadolu Agency, Peskov tempered expectations, suggesting that no "miraculous breakthroughs" should be anticipated from the talks. He emphasized the complexity of achieving a settlement in Ukraine, noting that agreements on prisoner exchanges are "already an outcome" of the negotiations.

Peskov highlighted that Ukraine has yet to lift a 2022 ban that prevents negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He characterized the negotiations as "quite complex," indicating that discussions on the draft memoranda from last month's talks would be necessary.

He refrained from predicting a timeline for reaching a settlement, citing numerous influencing factors that render any forecasts premature. Peskov's comments followed Zelenskyy's announcement of upcoming peace talks in Trkiye on Wednesday.

The two nations have previously engaged in peace talks in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2. During the latest discussions, both parties agreed to exchange additional prisoners of war, focusing on the youngest and most severely wounded, and to repatriate the bodies of 6,000 soldiers from each side.

Peskov also touched upon the possibility of a UN Security Council meeting involving its five permanent members to address international tensions, including those related to nuclear issues. However, he noted that there is currently no justification for such a summit. He expressed concerns about a trend toward increased tension and militarization, including nuclear, and assured that relevant departments are monitoring the situation to safeguard Russia's security.

Lastly, Peskov expressed hope that disagreements over Ukraine would not hinder Russia's bilateral relations with Azerbaijan.