Medvedev-Ukraine Peace Talks Impossible Under Zelenskyy Gov't

Continuing his address to an event at the World Youth Festival in Sirius, Deputy Chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claims that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are not possible with the current administration of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in place. Adds that talks with a new gov't would be possible, if they realised the 'new reality'. Medvedev's comments mirror those of the Ukrainian gov't, which has said it would refuse to hold talks with the Putin administration. Given that pressures on both sides for eventual talks is only likely to grow rather than contract in the months ahead, the likelihood for either of these stances on leadership to remain in place are slim.

• Following the leak of a phone callbetween senior German military officials discussing the provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine, Medvedev saysthat "Russia will exercise restraint, but we will remember this all."