Despite ongoing battlefield stalemate and skepticism from Moscow, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine are continuing with increasing intensity [[1]]. Following a series of meetings in Miami involving U.S. and Ukrainian officials, the possibility of direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow – facilitated by Washington – is gaining traction, though a formal trilateral meeting has not yet been scheduled [[2]]. Kremlin advisors are downplaying proposed alterations to President trump’s peace plan, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill debate the timeline and potential concessions necessary to achieve a lasting resolution [[3]].
A trilateral meeting involving representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States is not currently planned, according to Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov.
“No one has seriously discussed this initiative yet, and as far as I know, no work is being done on it,” Ushakov told TASS on Sunday.
He added that Kremlin envoy Kiril Dmitriev will brief Moscow officials upon his return regarding consultations held in Miami with White House representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Regarding proposed changes to the peace plan put forward by President Donald Trump, Ushakov stated that these alterations “do not improve the prospects for achieving a lasting peace.”
Earlier Sunday, Dmitriev said negotiations with the U.S. side were “constructive” and would continue.
The push for peace talks in Ukraine, a key priority for Trump since taking office in January, follows a Friday meeting between Witkoff and Kushner with Ukrainian and European envoys, also in Miami.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said those discussions concluded with a commitment to advance efforts toward a definitive resolution to the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Washington proposed holding joint peace negotiations with representatives from Ukraine and Russia, and potentially including European nations.
The potential for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, facilitated by the U.S., represents a significant development as the conflict continues to stall on the battlefield. The discussions underscore the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to broker an end to the fighting.
