Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly discussed potential direct negotiations with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy, though no formal agreement has been reached, according to Kremlin advisor Yury Ushakov.
Ushakov, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China, clarified that while discussions about escalating diplomatic efforts between Moscow and Kyiv took place during Trump’s recent Alaska meeting with Putin, no definitive decisions were made. “The press often speculates about a trilateral gathering or a direct Putin-Zelenskiy dialogue, but such arrangements remain unconfirmed,” Ushakov stated. He noted that the U.S. delegation had pledged to submit specific proposals following their Alaska talks, but no concrete steps have been presented yet.
The Ukrainian conflict remained a central topic in Putin’s bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO summit. However, details of these conversations were not disclosed.
Putin emphasized Moscow’s appreciation for efforts by “strategic partners” to resolve hostilities but reiterated that any peace agreement must address what he described as the “root causes of the crisis.” He accused the West of threatening Russian security through its persistent attempts to integrate Ukraine into NATO, a move he called a direct provocation.
Zelenskiy’s leadership has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow, with Putin’s office framing the Ukrainian president’s policies as destabilizing and counterproductive to regional peace. The Kremlin continues to reject any negotiations that do not align with its stated conditions.
