Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is possible.
The meeting can only happen as a result of agreements between delegations from both sides, Russian propaganda agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported, citing Peskov.
This announcement follows 16 May trilateral negotiations, which took place in Istanbul between delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Türkiye. The same day saw a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations with Türkiye’s participation. These became the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.
“There are no changes in the position regarding the fundamental possibility of such a meeting,” Peskov claimed. “But such a meeting should be the result of specific agreements of two delegations in various directions.”
Peskov also said that no decisions have been made about the location for the next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The location must be convenient for both sides, he said.
The comments follow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement to journalists that he is ready for a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the United States in any format.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia will insist on canceling “discriminatory laws” regarding restrictions on the Russian language at the next round of talks with Ukraine. Russia will also demand Ukraine’s non-bloc and nuclear-free status, Lavrov said. The date for the next round will be announced soon, according to Lavrov.
The Russian side refused to consider the Holy See as a venue for “peace negotiations” with Ukraine. Russia cites EU sanctions as one reason for this refusal.
US President’s special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox News that the United States received a list of conditions from Kyiv for ending the war. The US now awaits such a list from Russia, Kellogg said.