While U.S. President Donald Trump may have achieved a ceasefire in the Israel-Iran conflict, a similar breakthrough has not yet materialized in Ukraine, with Moscow shifting responsibility for progress in peace negotiations to Kyiv. Specifically, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated in remarks published on June 29, 2025, that the pace of peace talks aimed at ending the war does not depend on Russia but rather lies in the hands of the U.S. and Ukraine.
As expected, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, did not let Peskov’s comments go unanswered. The senior American official emphasized that “the spokesperson of the Russian presidency is speaking in Orwellian terms.” He added, “Russian claims that the U.S. and Ukraine are stalling peace talks are unfounded. President Trump has been consistent and adamant about making progress to end the war. We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move toward trilateral talks to end hostilities. Russia cannot continue delaying while bombing civilians in Ukraine.”
In response, when asked on July 1, 2025, about Kellogg’s statement that Russia is obstructing peace efforts, Peskov reiterated that Moscow has honored all agreements reached so far in the negotiations. He also expressed gratitude to Trump’s team for their contribution to the dialogue, but stressed: “No one is delaying anything here.”
The exchange underscores the deepening diplomatic tensions as both sides attempt to frame the narrative around stalled negotiations and the ongoing humanitarian impact of the war.