The Kremlin said it expects to agree “in the near future” on a date for a third round of peace negotiations with Ukraine, according to presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Two earlier rounds held in Istanbul in May and June produced prisoner exchanges but failed to halt the fighting. Peskov’s remarks followed a 3 July telephone call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in which the Russian leader reiterated that Moscow prefers to achieve its objectives in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means, while continuing what it terms a “special military operation.” Trump later told reporters he was “very disappointed” with the conversation, saying he saw no sign Putin was prepared to end the war. Responding to those comments, Peskov said Moscow pays “very close attention” to all statements made by the U.S. president but did not otherwise address the criticism.