Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan to introduce martial law, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, refuting U.S. intel chief Avril Haines’ claim that the Russian leader will do so to continue supporting the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Haines, the director of national intelligence, made the comments during a U.S. Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.

"We suggest focusing on the statements of the president, who repeated and quite recently reaffirmed that the special military operation is developing according to plan," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.

The spokesman also told reporters that the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine was continuing but "very sluggishly and ineffectively.”