Moscow (TDI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed optimism over recent Russia-US talks held in Saudi Arabia, stating that he highly values discussions and believes they marked an important first step toward restoring cooperation in different areas of mutual interest.
The high-level negotiations 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 discussions excluded Ukraine and European governments, Putin assured that Kyiv was not being excluded from future talks to resolve the conflict.
He stressed that building trust between Russia and the US was crucial to addressing the war.
Putin also indicated that he is ready for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, though he noted that such a meeting would require preparation.
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In a shift towards diplomacy, Putin reiterated Moscow’s willingness to engage in talks with Europe, asserting that Russia had never rejected negotiations and that European leaders had been the ones refusing to engage.
The diplomatic thaw between Russia and the United States comes as tensions continue over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Putin’s allegations against the West escalated, suggesting that Europe may have been involved in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in southern Russia.
Also Read: Trump: US negotiating with Putin to end war
On the domestic front, ties between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have soured, with Trump labelling Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and criticizing his handling of US military assistance.
Despite the tensions, Zelensky remains committed to maintaining constructive ties with Washington, vowing to meet with US envoy Keith Kellogg.
