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In a recent statement, President-elect Donald Trump indicated that arrangements are being made for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential shift towards discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During a gathering of Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump conveyed to reporters that Putin has expressed a desire to meet, stating, “we’re gonna — we’re setting it up.” He clarified that the meeting, if it occurs, would take place following his inauguration on January 20.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that while no specific plans have been finalized, Putin has continuously shown willingness to engage in dialogue with Trump. Peskov remarked, “We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to solve problems through dialogue. We welcome this…” He further mentioned that “no conditions are required” for interaction between the two leaders.
Trump has reiterated his commitment to bringing an end to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which has raised concerns that his approach could inadvertently favor Russian interests. Recently, Putin expressed readiness for talks with Trump.
When queried about the possibility of a meeting being attended by either Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump remarked, “to be determined, but President Putin wants to meet. He’s said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess.”
The last encounter between Trump and Putin was in Helsinki back in 2018, where Trump’s remarks—praising Putin’s offer to assist the US in investigating alleged Russian interference in the elections—left many American officials astonished.
During his first presidential term, the US took various measures against Russia, including escalating sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats, despite his attempts to foster a closer relationship with Putin.
In terms of present negotiations, Putin has demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw from occupied regions, such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, in exchange for a ceasefire. Moscow’s insistence on Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations and accepting limitations on its military has been met with firm rejection from Kyiv.
In a recent assertion, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Trump’s call for a prompt ceasefire, although he stated that Moscow is open to negotiations aimed at concluding the protracted conflict, which has lasted nearly three years.
(This article has been updated to include comments from the Kremlin in previous paragraphs.)
Source
www.yahoo.com