Kremlin denies plans for a meeting involving Trump and Zelenskyy at present.
Step aside high-level talks, the Russians aren't quite ready for a tripartite summit with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, it appears. Despite Trump's eagerness to bring Putin and Zelensky to the table for direct negotiations, Moscow seems to be playing the waiting game.
Dmitri Peskov, Putin's spokesman, stated that although Russia is open to high-level contacts, a direct meeting with Trump and Zelensky is still "too early." He added that any such meeting should be the result of agreements reached at a lower level first. This follows Trump's proposal for a tripartite summit as part of his efforts to end the long-standing Ukraine conflict.
Recent talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian officials were brief and unproductive, according to Peskov. However, he highlighted that some progress has been made in the humanitarian field. The warring parties have agreed on a further large exchange of prisoners and the return of fallen soldiers' remains.
The Russians are awaiting a response from Ukraine regarding their memorandum, as both sides brought papers to the Istanbul meeting, outlining their proposed solutions to the conflict. Unlike the Ukrainian proposal, the Russian one seems to lay out maximal demands, including the permanent cession of Ukrainian territories, international recognition of Russian conquests, and the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
Peskov suggested that any compromises on these demands should be discussed in private during negotiations, rather than being publicly debated.
[Sources: ntv.de, jog/dpa]
Key Players
- Dmitri Peskov
- Vladimir Putin
- Donald Trump
- Volodymyr Zelensky
Central Issues
- Ukraine Conflict
- Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
- USA's Role in Negotiations
Enrichment Data:
- Current Negotiations: Recent rounds of Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul have been inconclusive. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russia's proposals an "ultimatum" and demanded increased pressure on Russia for a genuine peace deal [1][2].
- Ukrainian Position: Ukraine has accused Russia of using ceasefire offers as a stalling tactic and is pushing for more U.S. and European pressure on Russia to facilitate productive negotiations [1][2].
- Russian Position: Russia has been unwilling to accept Ukraine's terms and has threatened to retaliate against Ukrainian military actions [1][2].
The European Union, having committed itself to the implementation of the EU's nuclear programme, has not yet intervened in the ongoing politics of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, yet remains a key player in the general news landscape, as the diplomatic tango unfolds between world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump of the United States, and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite Trump's eagerness for a tripartite summit with Putin and Zelensky, the Russians, under Putin's guidance, appear to be adhering to a cautious approach, signifying that the imminent meeting might be "too early" considering the current standoff in the Ukraine conflict.
