Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed optimism over recent Russia-US talks held in Saudi Arabia, stating that he rates the discussions “highly” and believes they marked an important first step toward restoring cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.
The high-level talks between US and Russian officials took place for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
While the talks excluded Ukraine and European governments, Putin assured that Ukraine was not being excluded from future negotiations to resolve the conflict. He emphasized that building trust between Russia and the US was crucial to addressing the war.
Putin also indicated that he would be open to meeting US President Donald Trump, though he noted that such a meeting would require preparation. In a shift towards diplomacy, Putin reiterated Russia’s willingness to engage in negotiations with Europe, asserting that Russia had never rejected talks and that European leaders had been the ones refusing to engage.
The diplomatic thaw between Moscow and Washington comes as tensions continue over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Putin’s accusations against the West escalated, suggesting that Europe may have been involved in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in southern Russia.
On the domestic front, relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have soured, with Trump calling Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and criticizing his handling of US military aid. Despite the tensions, Zelensky remains committed to maintaining a constructive relationship with Washington, vowing to meet with US envoy Keith Kellogg.
1729418090-0/jlo-(5)1729418090-0-165x106.webp "article")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ