Peace Plan Stalemate: Kremlin Dismisses "Trilateral" Talks and Criticizes European Tinkering

Analysis: The "Miami Diplomacy" Breakdown

Ushakov's statements come as Kirill Dmitriev concludes high-level meetings in Florida with Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The diplomacy of late 2025 is characterized by a "two-track" system that the Kremlin is currently exploiting:

• The European "Obstacle": Ushakov’s claim that European and Ukrainian "tweaks" are delaying peace refers to recent efforts by Brussels and Kyiv to add ironclad security guarantees and territorial recovery clauses to the original "28-point" US-authored plan. Moscow views these additions as "unconstructive" and a departure from the "neutrality" framework they prefer.

• Rejecting Trilateralism: By stating that a three-way meeting (Russia-USA-Ukraine) is "not being considered," Moscow is effectively refusing to sit at the same table as President Zelenskyy. This aligns with Putin's strategy of wanting to negotiate a "Great Power" deal directly with Washington, treating Kyiv as a secondary actor.

• Dmitriev’s Mission: Unlike traditional diplomats, Kirill Dmitriev’s involvement suggests the 2025 peace process has a massive economic component. His report to Putin on December 22 is expected to cover not just cease-fire lines, but also the lifting of sanctions and future energy cooperation between the US and Russia.