US, Ukraine pushing to bring Russia back to negotiating table, hopeful for partial ceasefire

Ukraine and the United States are actively pushing for a new round of peace negotiations with Russia, seeking to bring the Kremlin back to the negotiating table. This diplomatic push follows Ukraine's sustained long-range strikes targeting Russian infrastructure. Kyiv officials believe that a complete end to the war is unlikely, viewing a partial ceasefire as the most realistic outcome.

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I think there will be a trilateral meeting then. Of course, we need to do all this by the fall. I think we need to work hard on this. If it were up to us, it would be in July. But not everything depends on us.

According to sources, the US administration thinks that Russian President Vladimir Putin may now be more inclined to accept at least a partial aerial ceasefire. This potential shift in willingness is attributed to recent Russian vulnerability, with strikes occurring near Moscow and St. Petersburg. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been involved in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, indicating that Washington is revising its framework for negotiations.

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If, when peace comes, it'll be because of some new idea and some new concepts, and we're prepared to offer some of those in the right setting and form if the opportunity presents itself and the conditions are right.

Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to travel to Moscow in late July or early August to continue these discussions. President Zelensky is also slated to meet with US President Donald Trump next week, where they are expected to discuss the progress of peace talks and the current situation on the frontlines. Zelensky expressed hope for a trilateral meeting involving the US and Ukraine possibly occurring in the fall, emphasizing the need for concerted effort to achieve this by autumn.

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We're prepared to play that role in a positive way.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that new ideas are necessary to initiate peace talks, expressing the US's readiness to contribute positively if the opportunity and conditions are right. He described the ongoing conflict as "very bloody" and suggested that both sides should have an incentive to end it, though achieving this has been the primary challenge.

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I think it is a very bloody war. I think both sides should have an incentive to bring it to an end. That's been the challenge: an