The Kremlin said Monday that it does not rule out restarting trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States, although it stressed that there is currently no agreement on when or where negotiations could resume.
The comments followed a weekend diplomatic push by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who traveled to Moscow and Kyiv as Washington seeks to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The talks have stalled amid disagreements over the terms of a potential settlement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow remains open to restoring the trilateral format but cautioned that discussions about specific dates or a venue would be premature.
Why It Matters
The Kremlin’s comments indicate that diplomatic channels remain open despite the lack of a breakthrough. Moscow’s willingness to consider renewed three-way negotiations could provide Washington with an opening to restart a broader peace process.
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However, Russia has not publicly committed to specific terms, and Peskov declined to disclose details of the latest US proposals or identify the most difficult issues still separating the sides. This suggests that significant disagreements remain beneath the diplomatic signals.
The situation also highlights Washington’s increasingly direct role in attempting to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. Any progress will ultimately depend on whether the United States can bridge Russia and Ukraine’s conflicting positions on the conditions for ending the war.
Role of Trump
Peskov also said the Kremlin did not rule out a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump following the US envoys’ latest diplomatic efforts.
Moscow praised Trump’s peace efforts, with Peskov saying Putin values the US president’s commitment to finding a path toward peace. Such a conversation could help clarify whether the latest diplomatic contacts have produced enough progress to justify another round of high-level negotiations.
Key Stakeholders
The main stakeholders are Russia, Ukraine and the United States, with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump playing central roles in the diplomatic process.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also key intermediaries, while Ukrainian officials remain essential to any agreement because a lasting settlement would ultimately require Kyiv’s participation and acceptance.
European governments will also be watching closely, given the war’s implications for European security, sanctions and the future of Ukraine’s relationship with the West.
What’s Next
The immediate focus will be on whether Washington’s latest proposals can generate enough movement to bring Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table.
Moscow said it had not yet received information about the US envoys’ contacts with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv, suggesting that consultations between Washington and Kyiv are still developing.
For now, the Kremlin’s position amounts to an opening rather than a commitment. The next major indicators will be whether Putin and Trump speak directly, whether the US envoys return for further consultations, and whether Moscow and Kyiv agree on the framework for renewed trilateral negotiations.
With information from Reuters.
