Ukraine talks remain unsettled

Diplomatic efforts on Ukraine face mixed signals as Moscow hints at talks while Washington seeks binding guarantees.

Kremlin downplays Zelensky talks as Trump warns Putin may not want to strike a deal

Kremlin officials sought to minimize talk of direct talks with Kyiv even as Putin told Trump he was open to the idea. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later tempered that pledge, saying any meeting would need careful, gradual preparation. A Russian UN deputy said no one had rejected direct talks, but that meetings should not be held merely for show. Reports also suggested Putin floated a plan for Zelensky to travel to Moscow, a proposal Kyiv would likely reject. The back-and-forth highlights how diplomacy now travels through competing narratives and staged steps rather than quick breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, Washington is trying to navigate a tangle of demands. Trump has shifted from a focus on a ceasefire to urging a direct peace deal, while European leaders emphasize security guarantees for Ukraine. The gap between Moscow’s demands and Kyiv’s sovereignty requirements remains wide, and the promised ceasefire has not materialised. Observers say these exchanges reveal how fragile any peace process is when it is played out in public and across multiple capitals.

These developments show diplomacy as a contest of signals as much as words. Russia tests what it can offer and what it can extract, while the West pushes for concrete commitments that protect Ukraine’s sovereignty. Trump’s involvement adds a volatile layer, turning a potential backchannel into a public stage that can shape expectations without delivering a clear plan.

More broadly, any path to peace needs credible guarantees and a practical framework, not headlines. Without a shared roadmap, promises can fade and accountability can loosen, leaving Kyiv and its allies facing a longer war with unclear timelines and costs.

Highlights

Peace remains fragile and depends on concrete commitments, not headlines.