MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Sunday described a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump as ‘promising,’ while firmly ruling out any possibility of surrendering the territory it seized in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier this month Trump broke with Western policy over Ukraine by phoning Putin to discuss how to end the Ukraine conflict. Moscow hailed the call as it helped to end three years of isolation for the Kremlin leader.
Top Russian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the resumption of ties and start a discussion on a possible Ukraine ceasefire without the involvement of Kyiv or Europe.
“This is a dialogue between two extraordinary presidents,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV on Sunday. “That’s promising,” he added.
“It is important that nothing prevents us from realising the political will of the two heads of state.”
Trump’s change in policy has triggered alarm in Kyiv and across Europe, however, it is not clear whether his moves will be able to bring Moscow and Kyiv closer to a truce.
“The people decided to join Russia a long time ago,” Peskov said. “No one will ever sell off these territories. That’s the most important thing.”
“Fate willed it so, God willed it so, if I may say so. A mission as difficult as it is honourable — defending Russia — has been placed on our and your shoulders together,” Putin told servicemen who have fought in Ukraine.
“Today, at the risk of their lives and with courage, they are resolutely defending their homeland, national interests and Russia’s future,” Putin said in a video released by the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force has claimed that Russia’s army had overnight conducted a record 267 attack drones at Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “modestly successful comedian and dictator without elections,” adding that the war in Ukraine is a waste of money and innocent lives.
The Ukrainian president said that the United States President had succumbed to Russian-made disinformation.
“We must do our best to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine. This is possible with the unity of all partners: we need the strength of the whole of Europe, the strength of America, the strength of all those who want lasting peace,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also said he would like to meet with President Donald Trump. He also lauded the talks between senior Russian and US officials in Riyadh.
