On August 13, 2026, the situation surrounding the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine took a new turn. Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, made a bold statement that effectively changes the rules of the diplomatic game. According to him, Moscow is ready to resume peace talks, but with a significant caveat: the Kremlin intends to consider proposals exclusively from one side — the United States of America.
Exclusive dialogue with Washington
As reported by RBC-Ukraine citing the publication "Izvestia", the Russian official directly stated that Moscow is currently inclined to discuss new proposals from the US. This sounds like an attempt to isolate Ukraine from the decision-making process, shifting the focus of negotiations to a bilateral dialogue format between Moscow and Washington. Karasin emphasized that the key indicator of the effectiveness of the new round will be concrete practical results to be achieved during these consultations.
Openness to a visit by American mediators
An important element of the statement was the confirmation of the Kremlin's readiness to meet with high-ranking representatives of the US administration. Karasin assured that he sees no obstacles to holding a meeting with US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the American leader's son-in-law Jared Kushner. "We are always ready for meetings and negotiations. Therefore, this applies to both Kushner and Witkoff," the senator noted, adding that Moscow's readiness does not depend on what specific proposals Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will submit.
Kyiv's reaction and the role of the US
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who effectively reminds the world every day of the need to end the war, submitted new proposals to Washington on August 11, aimed at getting Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Kyiv hopes that the US can play a key role in this process. It recently became known that Witkoff and Kushner are already planning their first visit to Ukraine, which could become a turning point in the diplomatic race.
Contradictory data
There is a clear contradiction between the positions of the parties. On the one hand, Russia declares its readiness for negotiations but effectively excludes Ukraine from the process, demanding dialogue only with the US. On the other hand, Ukraine insists that any peace initiatives must take into account its position and interests. Furthermore, there are inconsistencies in dates and the format of negotiations: earlier, in February 2026, trilateral meetings were held in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, where all three sides participated. Now Moscow proposes returning to a bilateral format, which could be perceived by Kyiv as a step backward.
Political context and prospects
Karasin's statement can be viewed as an attempt by Moscow to use American mediators to achieve its goals, bypassing the Ukrainian side. This may also be a signal that Russia considers the US the only legitimate partner in negotiations, ignoring Ukraine's sovereignty. At the same time, Kyiv continues to insist that it is impossible to end the war without a decision by Vladimir Putin, and hopes for an active role by the US in this process.
