Yuri Reszakow told journalists that Politicians discussed the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russiaand also assessed that the talks were “constructive and very useful“And outside Ukraine, they also concerned other international issues.
Reuters reminds that Moscow and Kyiv did not have direct conversations from the early stage of the Russian invasion. Trump's envoy has not yet commented on a conversation with the Russian leader.
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Steve Witkoff, who came to Moscow earlier on Friday, He became Putin's main American interlocutor. It was his fourth meeting with the Russian leader in the last three months.
Steve Witkoff in place of March Rubio
CNN pointed out that in terms of contacts with the Kremlin, Trump marginalized the head of American diplomacy Marc Rubio just for Witkoff; Rubio, before joining the new administration, was in favor of supporting Ukraine.
The Russian editorial office of BBC News, published on Friday, Witkoff estimates that the US foreign policy is now shaped by not diplomats and experts, but Trump's relatives. Cites opinions, according to which Witkoff “knows nothing about Russia or Ukraine”. He also reminds that Witkoff, a businessman from New York, has experience in international matters, but he was entrusted with the task of ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Read also: Steve Witkoff announces a full truce. “In two weeks”
What's more, after the second meeting with Putin (March 13), Witkoff gave a television interview in which he said that the key issue in the conflict is the problem “Russian -speaking residents“Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia who voted in”referendum“Behind joining these areas to Russia. BBC also emphasizes that”Witkoff's statements drew even more attention, which clearly showed that he had problems with knowledge of facts on this subject“, and in his team there are no experts for Russia and it can be assumed that the president's envoy is preparing for talks.
Donald Trump remains optimist in terms of Ukraine
Donald Trump announced in an interview published on Friday for the weekly “Times” that “Crimea would remain in Russia” and added that “everyone understands that he was Russian for a long time (…). (Russians) had their submarines there for many years. People say to a large extent in Russian.”
According to Trump, negotiators “They are very close“Working out a peace agreement,” reports Associated Press.
Read also: Peace negotiations at the crossroads. The documents reveal the scale of the problem
The American “Wall Street Journal” said that for Trump, who Contrary to his election announcements, he was unable to lead to the rapid end of the warthe situation is becoming more and more frustrating and paralyzing. This raises doubts whether will be ready to push Russia to make significant concessions as he presses on Ukraine. According to “WSJ”, such a step would threaten his broader purpose, which is a rapprochement with the Kremlin.
