Kremlin Welcomes Trump’s Negotiation Initiative, Prepares for Delegation
Moscow, Russia – The Kremlin has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s initiative to negotiate an end to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the Trump administration’s shift in policy, suggesting that previous US administrations had prolonged the conflict.
Trump-Putin Phone Call
Peskov emphasized the importance of Wednesday’s telephone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated that the leaders discussed the possibility of a peaceful resolution in Ukraine but not sanctions. The West had imposed punitive measures on Russia following the invasion, aimed at hindering Moscow’s war efforts.
According to Peskov, the phone call also touched upon the energy sector, a crucial industry for Russia that Trump threatened to sanction if Russia refused to negotiate.
Negotiation Preparations
Peskov revealed that Russia is preparing a negotiating delegation. However, he noted that specific steps, such as the dispatch of US negotiators to Moscow, had not yet been agreed upon. Peskov also dismissed discussions about the location and timing of a potential meeting between Trump and Putin as premature.
Skepticism about European Involvement
Putin’s spokesman expressed skepticism about Europe’s involvement in the negotiations. He referred to the Minsk Agreement, which aimed to peacefully resolve the conflict between the Ukrainian government and Moscow-backed separatists in the Donbas region. The Kremlin believes that the agreement failed because Germany and France, as mediators, did not pressure Kyiv to implement its provisions.
Key Points
- The Kremlin welcomes Trump’s proposal for negotiations on Ukraine.
- The Trump administration’s approach is seen as more constructive than that of its predecessors.
- Russia is preparing a negotiating delegation.
- The Trump-Putin phone call focused on finding a peaceful solution, not sanctions.
- The energy sector was also discussed.
- Peskov is skeptical about European involvement in the negotiations.
- The Minsk Agreement’s shortcomings will be considered in future talks.
Implications
The Kremlin’s positive response to Trump’s initiative signals a potential shift in the conflict. However, it remains unclear whether the talks will succeed, and their potential implications for the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
The skepticism about European involvement suggests that Russia may prefer bilateral negotiations with the US. The past experience with multilateral mediations has not been entirely satisfactory for Moscow.
The ongoing preparations for a Russian delegation indicate that the Kremlin is serious about engaging in negotiations. The absence of concrete arrangements suggests that the process is still in its early stages and that much work remains to be done before substantive talks can commence.
