Russia's cautious response to Zelensky's Summit Offer

• The US State Department supports Ukraine's decision to invite Russia to a second summit but expresses doubts about Moscow's readiness for talks.
• Zelensky criticized Putin's demands as a territorial "ultimatum" reminiscent of those issued by Adolf Hitler.
• Kyiv is increasingly apprehensive about how a potential Donald Trump victory in November.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin cautiously reacted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's apparent invitation to a future peace summit, stating that Russia needs to first understand Kyiv's intentions before agreeing to participate in talks. Zelensky stated on Monday that Russia "should be" represented at a second summit on the Ukraine conflict, following high-level talks last month in Switzerland that Moscow did not attend and criticized heavily.

“The first peace summit was not a peace summit at all. So perhaps it is necessary to first understand what he means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Zvezda television channel, responding to Zelensky’s comments.

Zelensky's apparent welcome of Russia to talks marks a change in tone from the conference in Switzerland, where the Ukrainian leader categorically ruled out inviting Moscow. The surprise comments from Kyiv come as Ukraine's forces are losing ground on the front line and as the United States prepares for presidential elections that could fundamentally alter the conflict's dynamics.

Leaders and top officials from more than 90 states convened at a Swiss mountainside resort on June 15 for the two-day summit dedicated to resolving the largest European conflict since World War II. China and Russia notably did not attend.

The Kremlin sharply criticized the gathering, stating that any discussions on ending the conflict without Russia were deemed "absurd." On Monday, Washington voiced support for Ukraine's decision to invite Russia to a second summit but expressed doubts about Moscow's readiness for talks.

“When they want to invite Russia to that summit, of course, that is something we support,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told journalists.

“We’ve always supported diplomacy when Ukraine is ready, but it has never been clear that the Kremlin is ready for actual diplomacy,” he said.

Before last month’s summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he was open to talks and would declare a ceasefire if Kyiv effectively surrendered territory that Moscow claims as its own. Zelensky criticized Putin’s demands as a territorial “ultimatum” reminiscent of those issued by Adolf Hitler, and Ukraine’s Western backers, including the United States, reacted scornfully.

However, Kyiv is increasingly apprehensive about how a potential Donald Trump victory in November's US elections might impact continued American aid to Ukraine. The Republican Party candidate has suggested he would quickly end the conflict if he regained the presidency, a promise Kyiv fears would force negotiations with Moscow from a weakened position.

On Monday, Zelensky expressed confidence that he was "not worried" about the prospect of a Trump victory and reiterated his reliance on support from the United States, Ukraine's largest financial and military backer.

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