Russia’s Kremlin is dangling the prospect of peace talks, but don’t hold your breath for clarity. On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed President Vladimir Putin might meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, yet the conditions remain as vague as the Moscow fog. This smells like a stalling tactic to blunt President Trump’s aggressive push for resolution.
The New York Post reported that Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, with the Kremlin suggesting a leaders’ summit while peace talks in Istanbul have stalled, focusing only on prisoner swaps last week.
Trump’s tightened sanctions and military moves are turning up the heat. Ukrainian officials, skeptical of Putin’s sincerity, see this as a ploy to derail progress.
In May 2025, Putin snubbed direct talks with Zelensky in Turkey, despite Trump’s prodding. Peskov’s latest comments about “expert-level work” and “appropriate distance” sound like diplomatic word salad. It’s the kind of rhetoric that keeps hopes alive but delivers nothing concrete.
Last week, Trump flexed U.S. muscle, announcing a shortened deadline for secondary sanctions on nations buying Russian oil on August 1, 2025. This economic jab targets Russia’s war chest, signaling no patience for Kremlin games. Putin’s team, unfazed, claims resilience, but the pressure is rattling Moscow’s cage.
Over the weekend, Trump upped the ante, ordering two nuclear-capable submarines to Russia’s coast on August 2-3, 2025.
This move responded to inflammatory remarks from Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Security Council deputy, who called Trump’s actions a “step towards war.” The Kremlin’s bravado can’t mask the tightening screws.
Medvedev’s rhetoric, labeling U.S. actions as ultimatums, only escalates tensions. “Each new ultimatum is a threat,” he said last week, doubling down on defiance. Yet, Trump’s strategic posturing suggests he’s not buying Russia’s tough talk.
Ukraine, meanwhile, remains open but wary. “Ukraine’s position is clear: we are ready for a leaders’ meeting,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s top advisor, on August 4, 2025. He called out Peskov’s vague promises as a time-buying trick, and he’s not wrong.
Yermak also praised Trump’s resolve, noting on X, “We are grateful to President @POTUS for his consistency in seeking an end to the war.”
Ukraine sees Trump as holding the upper hand. This trust underscores Kyiv’s hope for a real breakthrough, not more Russian stalling.
But Ukraine faces its challenges. On August 2, 2025, four officials were arrested for a corruption scheme involving defense purchases. This scandal undermines Kyiv’s credibility at a critical moment, giving Putin more room to dodge accountability.
Russia’s state-run TASS outlet claimed on August 4, 2025, that Moscow remains “unfazed by Trump’s pressure.” This bravado rings hollow as Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, prepares to visit Russia this week. The Kremlin’s insistence on staying steady feels more like posturing than confidence.
Peskov’s claim that Putin is open to talks hinges on undefined “expert-level” preparations. “The necessary work is done at the expert level,” he said, offering no specifics. It’s a classic Kremlin move—promise much, deliver little.
Yuriy Sak, a former Ukrainian advisor, sees through the charade. “Putin knows this and will do everything to ‘kill’ this momentum,” Sak told The Post on August 4, 2025. He warns that Putin’s apparent willingness is just a feint to string Trump along.
While talk of peace swirls, violence persists. On August 2, 2025, a Russian attack struck a residential building in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Zelensky paid tribute to the victims the day before, a grim reminder of the stakes.
Trump’s envoy visits signal a dual-track approach—diplomacy backed by strength. Keith Kellogg’s upcoming trip to Ukraine follows Witkoff’s Moscow visit, keeping pressure on both sides. This coordinated effort shows Trump’s refusal to let Putin dictate the pace.
Sak’s final word cuts deep: “Trump already sees through Putin’s game and will not play along.” The Kremlin’s vague overtures may fool some, but not a dealmaker like Trump. As the chessboard shifts, Putin’s stalling tactics face a formidable opponent determined to force clarity.
