Russia does not rule out fresh three-way Ukraine talks with US and Kyiv

Russia does not rule out resuming three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine on the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin said Monday, following a visit to Moscow and Kyiv by US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

US-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled in recent months, as Washington has shifted its focus towards the war with Iran. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators last met for US-mediated talks in Geneva in February but failed to reach an agreement on the issue of territory.

Talks have not resumed since.

“Russia does not rule out the resumption of the trilateral format, but it is too early to say anything about the venue or the exact dates at this stage,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Witkoff and Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend in a renewed effort to end the fighting.

A senior Ukrainian presidential source told AFP that the US negotiators had brought “more effective” proposals on ending the war. However, neither Moscow nor Kyiv announced a breakthrough.

The four-and-a-half-year conflict has killed tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians.

Negotiations remain deadlocked over Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Russia does not fully control the area but has demanded that it be included in any peace settlement.