Steady diplomacy needed on Kyiv: Kremlin

MOSCOW/KYIV — Meticulous work is needed to resolve the situation in Ukraine, not a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, TASS cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying in remarks published on Sunday.

"Hypothetically speaking, it is possible, but at the moment there is no need for it," Peskov said.

"At the moment, what is needed is very painstaking work on the details of the settlement," Reuters reported, citing the state news agency quoting Peskov.

The statement comes following the cancellation of a planned meeting between the leaders of Russia and the United States in Budapest.

In comments on reports that the Pentagon had approved Tomahawk missile supplies to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that sending weapons to Kyiv will not help achieve any settlement, according to the RIA news agency.

The Pentagon has given the White House the green light to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles after assessing that it would not negatively impact US stockpiles, leaving the final decision to Trump, CNN reported on Friday, citing sources in the US and Europe.

In a post on X last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine hopes to expand its long-range capabilities by the end of this year so the conflict can end "on fair terms" for the country.

Ukraine has consistently sought Tomahawk missiles from the US.Russia has repeatedly warned that providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles would escalate the situation.

Trump initially stated that he had made some kind of decision on the matter, but later refused to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. He also stated that the US military would not teach other countries how to operate Tomahawk missiles.

Moscow has been grinding forward on the front line as Kyiv tries to undermine Russia's efforts by targeting its energy infrastructure.

The Donetsk region was without power after recent Russian attacks, the regional governor said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack damaged at least two foreign vessels and the oil terminal infrastructure at Russia's key Black Sea port of Tuapse on Sunday, Russian authorities said.

Agencies - Xinhua