Trump says progress in Ukraine peace talks, but Kremlin denies it - Times
US President Donald Trump said that he had a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and allegedly made some progress in ending the war in Ukraine. However, these statements are viewed with caution in Moscow.
This is reported by The Times, Censor.NET informs.
According to the publication, the talks between the US and Russian diplomatic missions have already been confirmed by both sides. However, it is unclear whether Trump spoke with Putin after his inauguration or whether the conversation took place earlier.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that the Kremlin expects "the interests of the Russian Federation" to be taken into account during possible negotiations to end the war. According to him, Russia has not received any official proposals from Washington at this point.
It is noted that the Russian side continues to insist on its previous demands: Kyiv must recognize "Russian rule" in the temporarily occupied territories, refuse to join NATO, and the West must lift sanctions. At the same time, the Kremlin openly states that its ultimate goal is to establish a regime in Ukraine that is loyal to Moscow.
The date for a possible meeting between Trump and Putin has not yet been set, but Moscow is considering Saudi Arabia or the UAE as potential venues for the talks. According to Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, preparations for the meeting are "at an advanced stage," and it could take place by the end of March.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that no peace will be stable without reliable security guarantees from the United States and Europe. He said that he was ready for any format of negotiations, but it was important to make sure that Putin had no chance to start a new war against Ukraine.
According to the newspaper, the Kremlin, in turn, categorically rejects any agreements that provide for the deployment of NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, calling it a risk of "uncontrolled escalation."
To recap, on February 7, US President Donald Trump said that he was likely to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week. Zelenskyy later announced talks with Trump's team. Zelenskyy also wants Trump to meet with him first and then with Putin.
