Russia not stalling Ukraine settlement talks - Peskov

MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - Russia is not stalling the Ukraine settlement talks and wishes to achieve the objectives of the special military operation by political and diplomatic methods, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Naturally, we are interested in the achievement of the goals and objectives of the special military operation by political and diplomatic methods in the first turn. So, we have no interest in stalling anything," Peskov told journalists on Tuesday, commenting on a statement by U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who said that Russia was stalling the negotiations.

The dates of the third round of negotiations "are being coordinated," Peskov said.

"So far, the agreements reached at the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks have been being implemented. Then we just need to meet once an understanding is reached and all the previous humanitarian agreements are fulfilled. They will meet [negotiators] and continue the discussion," he said.

"Indeed, we appreciate the efforts taken by Washington and members of the [U.S. President Donald Trump] team to promote the Ukraine settlement talks," Peskov said.

Speaking of Washington's claims that Moscow is stalling the negotiating process, Peskov said, "Objectively, it's hard to talk about the possibility of a significant acceleration, and no one is stopping or stalling the work on implementing the agreements [between Moscow and Kiev]," Peskov said.

He abstained from a detailed comment on the pace of negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation. "I will not assess the pace of negotiations because, naturally, the fulfilment of the agreements reached so far at the two rounds takes time, same as certain preparations for conducting the exchanges and organizing and conducting the transfers of bodies. These are time-consuming operations," he said.