Ready for Discussions with Ukraine Without Conditions – Putin's Statement
Vladimir Putin threw his hat in the ring once again, verbally confirming Russia's readiness to rekindle talks with Ukraine, devoid of any preconditions according to Dmitriy Peskov, reported by TASS. This comes hot on the heels of a face-to-face encounter with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin on the 25th of April.
The meeting, which lasted approximately three hours, saw the attendance of Presidential assistant Yuri Ushakov and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, in addition to the two major figures. In a constructive turn of events, the duo delved into a range of topics, one of which being the potential reinstatement of direct Ukrainian-Russian negotiations. Yuri Ushakov revealed that the meeting served to narrow the gaps between Moscow and Washington not only on Ukraine but also on other matters.
Dmitriy Peskov, in a conversation with journalist Pavel Zarubin, termed the diplomatic exchanges as "shuttle diplomacy," referencing the sequence of messages being ferried between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin via Witkoff. According to Peskov, these personal conversations provide an opportunity to discuss matters in-depth and convey Russia's position effectively to the American side.
Post the meeting between Putin and Witkoff, Trump took to the Truth Social platform, expressing his belief that the core points of the Ukraine settlement have been largely agreed upon. Trump stated, "They [Russia and Ukraine] are on the cusp of a deal, and now both parties must convene at a senior level to 'seal the deal.' The fundamental aspects have been ironed out."
These dynamics surrounding the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine continue to unfold, with details remaining somewhat elusive. Russia seems adamant about Ukrainian demilitarization, a stance that has been maintained since December 2021. Conversely, Ukraine and the U.S. have advocated for Ukraine's right to build its military and defense industry. The final outcome of these negotiations remains to be seen, as concrete details have yet to be disclosed.
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- Dmitriy Peskov, in a post-meeting conversation with Pavel Zarubin, labeled the ongoing diplomatic exchanges between United States and Russia as "shuttle diplomacy."
- In a recent meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Vladimir Putin reiterated Russia's willingness to resume talks with Ukraine, under the condition that there are no preconditions, a stance shared by Dmitriy Peskov.
- The negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, amid the ongoing war-and-conflicts, have gained attention in the general news and politics sectors, as both parties appear to be inches away from a deal.
- Despite the agreed-upon core points of the Ukraine settlement, as stated by Donald Trump, the final outcome of the negotiations remains unclear due to the differing stances on Ukraine's demilitarization and military capability, a sticking point for Russia and Ukraine respectively.
