Against the backdrop of reports regarding a possible trilateral summit on the Ukrainian settlement in November, the Kremlin has clarified its stance on the format of future negotiations. According to TASS, cited by RBC-Ukraine, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that a final agreement on ending the war cannot be achieved without representatives from Kyiv. The statement was made in the context of ongoing US diplomatic efforts to find ways to end the conflict.
“No Finale Without Kyiv”
According to Peskov, Russia highly appreciates the United States' efforts in seeking ways to end the war in Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that final agreements cannot be reached without the participation of the Ukrainian side. “A final settlement of the Ukrainian conflict without the participation of someone from Kyiv who is ready to take responsibility is impossible,” the Kremlin spokesman stated. Thus, Moscow has publicly designated the presence of the Ukrainian side as a necessary condition for a final agreement, although it did not disclose details of the expected format.
Background: November Summit Proposal
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia proposed holding a trilateral summit in November with the participation of the US and China to negotiate an end to the war; according to WSJ estimates, conditions favorable to Moscow were being discussed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not scheduled to be invited to such a meeting. This very report about a format without Kyiv essentially preceded Peskov's current clarification and provoked a reaction from the Ukrainian side.
Kyiv's Position: A Format Without Ukraine Is Unacceptable
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized the idea of negotiations without Ukraine's participation, stating that such a format would only encourage Russia to continue the war. Instead, he advocated for negotiations involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia. Thus, Kyiv insists on its own presence at the negotiating table, which formally aligns with what Peskov called a necessary condition—however, the parties describe the composition and order of upcoming meetings differently.
Details Remain Undefined
At the same time, Peskov did not specify whom exactly Moscow would like to see as Ukraine's representative in the negotiations, nor did he name the possible format of future meetings. This leaves room for further diplomatic negotiations and interpretations. Currently, the key confirmed fact remains the Kremlin's public position on the necessity of Ukrainian participation in the final settlement, as well as the previously reported media proposal for a trilateral summit and Kyiv's criticism of that format.
