MOSCOW: A new round of talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine could take place soon, the Kremlin said, as diplomatic efforts to advance a negotiated settlement continue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that preparations were underway, though the date and venue would be announced later.
“As we have said, we expect the next round to happen soon. We will inform you about the location,” Peskov said at a press briefing in Moscow.
His remarks came amid ongoing diplomatic manoeuvring following two rounds of US-mediated talks held in Abu Dhabi in January and February. Those discussions resulted in the first exchange of prisoners of war in five months.
Responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that he would not travel to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said Kyiv’s position was “not new” and reiterated that Russia maintains its proposal regarding a possible meeting venue.
Peskov also addressed comments by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who accused some European politicians of “scratching at the Kremlin’s doors.” He said Europe appeared divided between those advocating dialogue with Moscow and those maintaining what he described as a “short-sighted” approach.
He added that Putin has never refused direct contact and urged French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to reach out if they wished to engage in discussions.
“If there is a desire and necessity, one can simply pick up the phone and call President Putin. He has never refused direct contacts,” Peskov said.
Turning to Cuba’s energy crisis, Peskov said Russia was discussing possible assistance to the island nation, though details could not be made public. He added that Moscow hoped issues surrounding the blockade of Cuba could be resolved through constructive dialogue with the United States.
The comments come amid heightened geopolitical tensions, as Washington has warned of potential economic measures against countries supplying fuel to Cuba.
