Kremlin Dismisses Zelensky’s Proposal for Trilateral Talks with Trump and Putin
The Kremlin has firmly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent call for a high-stakes trilateral summit involving himself, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the offer “empty words.”
The proposal, which Zelensky said aimed to explore paths toward ending the prolonged war in Ukraine, was swiftly dismissed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Citing a 2022 presidential decree signed by Zelensky that explicitly forbids any direct negotiations with Putin, Peskov questioned the sincerity of Ukraine’s current diplomatic posture.
“This is nothing more than political theater. How can one propose peace talks while maintaining a legal ban on direct dialogue with the Russian president? Such contradictions only reinforce our doubts about Kyiv’s commitment to real peace,” Peskov stated.
The development follows a tense Oval Office meeting in Washington D.C., where Zelensky faced pointed criticism from Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. According to insiders, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of being “ungrateful” for U.S. support and unwilling to make meaningful concessions to end the war.
The confrontation has fueled speculation over a potential cooling of U.S.-Ukrainian relations, especially should Trump return to the presidency in 2025.
Despite the diplomatic rebuff, Zelensky has reiterated his willingness to engage both Trump and Putin in direct talks.
“Peace requires bold leadership. If President Trump believes he can help end this war, then let us talk openly and honestly, with all parties at the table,” he said in a statement.
Russia, meanwhile, has proposed resuming stalled peace talks in Istanbul on June 2, and has distributed a memorandum outlining its stance.
The Kremlin has invited other nations to support the renewed effort, though it remains unclear whether Ukraine will attend or reject the talks outright.
The stalemate reflects the broader challenges confronting any resolution to the conflict: entrenched distrust, clashing political preconditions, and divergent narratives over responsibility and compromise.
With the war entering its fourth year and the global political landscape shifting, the viability of any meaningful diplomatic breakthrough appears as uncertain as ever. Whether Zelensky’s appeal is a genuine call for peace or a strategic move in anticipation of a new U.S. administration remains to be seen.
