Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Russia will not join planned Saturday talks between the US and Ukraine regarding ending the war, but hopes for trilateral negotiations soon.
Kremlin Announces Absence from US-Ukraine Negotiations
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, informed that Russia will not participate in the talks scheduled for Saturday, March 21st, between the US and Ukraine concerning the resolution of the conflict. He expressed hope for the resumption of trilateral discussions in the near future.
“This pause [in Ukraine negotiations – ed.] is temporary. We hope it is temporary. I mean the continuation of the trilateral format. We hope that we will be able to resume these negotiations in the near future,” Peskov emphasized. He added that the potential location for these trilateral negotiations remains unclear.
Zelensky Confirms Potential for Trilateral Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed information regarding the possible resumption of trilateral talks.
Kremlin Rejects Reports of Diminished Peace Process
Peskov recently dismissed reports from the British newspaper “Financial Times” suggesting the peace process in Ukraine was losing momentum due to US President Donald Trump’s focus on the Middle East.
Peskov commented that Trump’s recent statements indicated the opposite of disinterest, as the US President suggested to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that they reach an agreement. The Kremlin spokesperson also asserted Russia’s interest in continuing negotiations to end the war.
Zelensky Reports Signals from US Regarding Talks
In a video posted on Thursday, March 19th, on platform X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had received signals from the US in recent days indicating that trilateral peace talks with Russia could be resumed soon. He stressed, however, that Russia should not enter these talks with a strengthened position.
The main point of contention in the talks remains the issue of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which Russia seeks to control.