News - Middle East: The Kremlin spokesman has ruled out the possibility of a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents over the long-running crisis in the former Soviet country, saying such a summit will be convened only after negotiators from both sides have "done their homework."

Dmitry Peskov made the comment on a conference call on Monday in response to a question about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offer to broker peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

"The Ukrainian delegation has gone off the radar, there is no negotiation process now," Peskov said. "As for a meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky, it is possible only after all the homework has been done by the delegations. This is missing, so there are no necessary prerequisites for the meeting."

Negotiations between Moscow and Kiev over the conflict have been stalled for months, with each side blaming the other for a lack of progress.

During the recent talks in Russia's Sochi, Erdogan said there would be no winner in the Russia-Ukraine war. "Despite the difficulties on the ground, I also maintain my strong belief that the crisis will be resolved at the negotiating table. I reminded Putin once again that we can host his meeting with Zelensky."

The Turkish leader said Ankara would continue to hold dialogue to contribute to regional and global peace. A ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, he said, is possible "if parties really show sensitivity to the promises made."

Russia launched the military operation in Ukraine in late February, following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements and Moscow’s recognition of the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin said at the time that one of the goals of the operation was to “de-Nazify” Ukraine.

Western countries have responded to the Russian campaign by backing Ukraine with cash and increasingly heavy weaponry while imposing sanctions against Moscow.

The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced more than 13 million, creating the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.