Russia says prepared for peace talks with Ukraine ‘with out preconditions’; Trump ‘doubts’

In accordance with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin informed US envoy Steve Witkoff at a gathering on Friday that Moscow was prepared for talks with Kyiv.

“Throughout yesterday’s talks with Trump’s envoy Witkoff, Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia is able to resume negotiations with Ukraine with none preconditions,” Peskov mentioned, including that Putin has repeated that a number of occasions prior to now.

US President Donald Trump had on Friday mentioned {that a} deal concerning ending the Russia-Ukraine Warfare was ‘shut’. However only a day after saying that, the Republican chief expressed doubt over Putin’s willingness to finish the warfare.

Trump mentioned in a put up on the social media platform Reality Social that “there was no purpose for Putin to be capturing missiles into civilian areas, cities and cities, over the previous couple of days.” Trump hinted at additional sanctions towards Russia whereas flying again to the US after Pope Francis’ funeral.

“It makes me assume that perhaps he doesn’t need to cease the warfare, he’s simply tapping me alongside, and must be handled otherwise, by way of ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many individuals are dying!!!” Trump wrote.

Donald Trump’s assembly with Volodymyr Zelensky

Each the remarks from the Kremlin expressing willingness for talks and the doubt expressed by Donald Trump got here hours after the US President met along with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on the funeral of Pope Francis on the Vatican, earlier on Saturday.

Each leaders briefly met one another earlier than the funeral and held a personal assembly, which the White Home termed ‘productive’. This was their first assembly since their public spat in Washington on February 28.

“We mentioned loads one-on-one. Hoping for outcomes on all the pieces we coated. Defending lives of our folks. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Dependable and lasting peace that may stop one other warfare from breaking out. Very symbolic assembly that has potential to develop into historic, if we obtain joint outcomes. Thanks,” Zelensky wrote on X.

Vladimir Putin didn’t attend Francis’ funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the Worldwide Felony Courtroom, which has accused him of warfare crimes stemming from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.