Russia is sticking to its traditional tactics of pressuring the ongoing negotiation process between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations to end the war, claiming that it has "returned to a stalemate."

"Negotiations are going on extremely hard. Online in the working subgroups. But they are going on. It is clear that the emotional background today in the negotiation process is difficult. It is clear that the Ukrainian delegation is working exclusively within a framework that is pro-Ukrainian and transparent. It is also clear that the Russian side adheres to its traditional tactic of publicly pressuring the negotiation process, including through certain public statements," Podolyak said in his commentary to the RBC-Ukraine news agency.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation returned to a deadlock after the meeting of the delegations in Istanbul and what he called the "provocation" in Bucha.