Russia’s defense ministry has accused Ukraine, with backing from European countries, of deliberately undermining peace negotiations through military provocations, days after the first direct talks in over three years failed to produce a ceasefire.

“The Kyiv regime, supported by certain European countries, has taken a number of provocative steps aimed at disrupting the negotiation process,” the Russian defense ministry said Tuesday. The statement follows May 16 peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials that ended without a truce agreement.

Western elites would like to make sure that Russia losing strategic ground, they do not want to see the truth or realities. Europe should stop sabotaging Ukraine peace efforts

Russia’s FM Lavrov

According to Moscow, Ukrainian forces intensified drone and missile attacks on Russian territory between May 20 and May 27, using Western-supplied munitions and targeting civilian zones. The ministry claimed that 2,331 drones were intercepted during this period, including 1,465 outside immediate combat areas.

Russia described its own retaliatory strikes as “precise” and limited to Ukrainian military infrastructure.

The renewed hostilities further complicate diplomatic efforts pushed by intermediaries like Türkiye, which has offered to host follow-up talks in Istanbul. Despite mutual accusations and battlefield escalations, Moscow has reiterated its commitment to the negotiation track, albeit under strained conditions.