Diplomacy returns to the center of the war in Ukraine, but on the ground the fighting does not stop. After the mission to Moscow and Kiev of American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the possibility of a new round of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States is reopening. The Kremlin, in the last few hours, has made it known that do not exclude the resumption of the trilateral formatA cautious opening, with no agreed-upon date or location, but one of the most significant signs of recent weeks. At the moment, however, it's not yet possible to speak of a turning point: the distances between Moscow and Kiev remain profound and no ceasefire agreement has been announced.
Moscow opens, but conditions remain distant
The Kremlin maintains that a resumption of talks is not ruled out, but the main issues on the table remain unresolved. Among the most difficult issues is the territorial oneRussia continues to demand significant concessions from Ukraine, while Kiev rejects the idea of ceding territory and demands concrete security guarantees to prevent a potential truce from becoming merely a pause before a new conflict. Another extremely sensitive issue concerns Ukraine's future relationship with NATO and, more generally, the European security system.
Zelensky: The territorial issue remains central
There are no signs from Kiev of a willingness to radically change Ukraine's position. Zelensky continues to maintain that any agreement must guarantee the country's security and territorial integrity. American diplomacy will therefore have to seek a point of balance amid demands that, at least for now, remain difficult to reconcile. Washington's goal appears to be to transform the separate meetings with Putin and Zelensky into a path that can bring the parties back to the same table.
A new trilateral summit is possible
This is the perspective that has been gaining ground again in the last few hours: a new meeting between the United States, Russia and UkraineThere's no official call yet, but the Kremlin's openness and the American envoys' mission indicate that the diplomatic channel isn't closed. The key question will be whether Moscow and Kiev are willing to make sufficient concessions to make a new meeting possible. Washington is aiming to prevent the diplomatic process from stalling again after the initial contacts. "The Americans have told us that Russia has renewed its willingness to negotiate. after the Duma elections (the lower house of the Russian parliament, scheduled for September 18-20) and that, in this context, we should prepare for a new start of negotiations,” the French presidency said during a telephone briefing with journalists.
The clash between Moscow and Berlin
The deterioration of Russian-German relations comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions. At the heart of the conflict is the drone incident detected near Leipzig/Halle Airport. Berlin has blamed Moscow, while the Kremlin rejected the accusations. Russia also announced the closure of the Goethe Centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, further escalating the conflict with Berlin.
Russia has revoked its consent to the activities of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in St. Petersburg, which will have to cease its activities by September 18, 2026. "This was announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The decision was taken in retaliation for the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn. All its employees will have to leave the Russian Federation by that date.
