U.S. negotiators have been shuttling between Moscow and Kyiv in a renewed push to broker a trilateral peace settlement, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. However, the Russian official has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of lacking the necessary flexibility and genuine commitment to ending hostilities, labeling his government’s stance as fundamentally obstructive to peace efforts.

Speaking to Indian media ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Peskov stated that Russia welcomes U.S.-led mediation but emphasized Kyiv remains “not flexible” or “really willing” to cease active conflict. He further claimed Zelensky’s government is “provoked to a great extent by some European countries who cannot get rid of the idea of strategically defeating Russia.” The Kremlin described recent diplomatic efforts, involving U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as constructive but noted that Ukraine has consistently resisted Russian demands on territorial and security issues.

Zelensky suggested trilateral talks could be held in the UAE, Türkiye, Switzerland, or another country as early as September or October, though Moscow and Washington have yet to confirm specific venues or timelines. Peskov reiterated Russia’s insistence that any final agreement must address the root causes of the conflict while respecting new realities on the ground—a position he stated Ukraine has repeatedly ignored by refusing to engage with these conditions.

This diplomatic initiative follows a period when U.S. attention shifted toward its war against Iran, compounding tensions as hostilities between Russia and Ukraine persist without resolution.