Zelenskyy Seeks Trilateral Peace Talks as Russia Awaits US Proposals

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for trilateral peace talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington to be held by autumn. During a July 23 press conference in Kyiv with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Zelenskyy disclosed that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had delivered negotiation proposals via telephone. Zelenskyy noted that US focus on Iran has influenced the timing of these diplomatic efforts, which follow a pause in US-mediated talks earlier in the year.

On July 24, the Kremlin announced that Russia will wait for new proposals from the United States. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that while Russia views President Donald Trump as sincere in seeking a settlement, the US position remains ambiguous due to continued weapons supplies to Kyiv. Peskov claimed a previous US proposal was accepted by Russia but rejected by Ukraine, adding that Russia would continue military operations to achieve "total victory" if peace prospects remain absent.

Concurrent diplomatic activity occurred in Manila, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on the sidelines of ASEAN events to discuss the US role in the settlement process.