Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday (local time) that Russia and Ukraine, with US mediation, are expected to resume trilateral talks aimed at ending the war between the two countries.

According to Yonhap, citing RIA Novosti, Peskov told a briefing, "There is an understanding that trilateral talks to resolve the Ukraine crisis will resume. Russia is open to negotiations. We hope Kyiv is ready for contact."

Peskov said many countries are ready to host the talks, adding, "What matters is the parties' willingness to talk."

Asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent statement that he was willing to enter negotiations, Peskov claimed, "Ukraine will need flexibility, since it lacks both funds and weapons."

He added, "Kyiv knows all too well what it must do and how it should compromise to reach a genuine peaceful solution."

Peskov also said the US has a role to play, adding, "We hope US officials will continue their peacekeeping efforts."

Peskov was asked about speculation that US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner had brought a draft peace agreement to Moscow and Kyiv. The two made back-to-back visits to the two capitals on Saturday and Sunday. He said, "The rumors have nothing to do with reality."

Trump, Putin hold hourlong call

Earlier, on Tuesday (local time), the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Trump for about an hour.

According to Yonhap, citing Tass and RIA Novosti, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told a briefing that the two leaders had spoken for an hour that day. He called it "a constructive and very candid conversation."

Ushakov said the two leaders exchanged views on the outcomes of Witkoff and Kushner's visits to Russia and Ukraine and assessed them positively.

Putin reportedly told Kushner that "Russia has no aggressive plans toward Europe."

Trump reportedly said that ending the conflict in Ukraine would open the way to restoring relations between the two countries, and that reviving US-Russia trade ties would bring substantial benefits to both sides.

Putin backed Trump's willingness to build a constructive partnership between the two countries, Ushakov said.

The two leaders agreed to continue prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine and to stay in contact, calling each other immediately whenever necessary, Ushakov said.


yul@heraldcorp.com