РУССКИЙ
18:58 13.02.2025 •
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump
Photo: TASS
Russia has already started forming a group for talks with the United States, including to discuss the situation in Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told, TASS reports.
"Undoubtedly, the work has begun. As soon as the president makes the relevant decisions, we will inform you," he said, when asked if Russia had begun to form a negotiating group of its own. Peskov did not specify who might head the group, noting that it would be reported after Putin's relevant decisions.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Moscow and Washington intend to immediately start negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. He said that he had asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, his national security advisor Michael Waltz and special envoy Steve Whitkoff to lead the talks.
Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia considered these sanctions illegal and a violation of international trade rules.
Dmitry Peskov
Photo: TASS
The lifting of anti-Russian sanctions was not addressed during the February 12 telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, TASS reports.
"No, this topic was not raised yesterday," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media.
"We consider these sanctions illegal and a violation of international trade rules. Naturally, Russia opposes them. However, this subject has not been discussed thus far," Peskov added.
The Kremlin does not say whether the conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump was the first since the US leader's inauguration and on whose initiative it took place, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, TASS informs.
"I will leave this without comment," the Kremlin spokesman said in response to a TASS question.
The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States took place on January 20 in Washington. On February 10, the US leader, when asked whether he had a conversation with Putin before or after taking office, replied, "I’ve had it. Let’s just say I’ve had it."
The last conversation between Putin and Trump that the Kremlin was informed of took place on July 23, 2020.
The Kremlin sees the need to prepare a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump quite quickly, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, TASS informs.
"Definitely, there is a need to hold such a meeting quite soon. The leaders have a lot to talk about. There are many issues on the agenda, which were briefly outlined during yesterday's telephone conversation. But it is impossible to talk about any deadlines at the moment, because the preparations for this meeting are only beginning these days," he said when asked when the meeting might take place.
Earlier, Trump told reporters that the talks could take place in Saudi Arabia. According to him, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman is involved in organizing the contacts. Trump explained that the time of the meeting has not yet been determined, but it will take place in the nearest future.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, agreed, during phone talks yesterday, to order their aides to start working toward a summit immediately, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, TASS reports.
"The two leaders agreed in yesterday’s phone call to continue communication between themselves as they will focus on holding a separate meeting and they also agreed to order their aides to start work toward that immediately," Peskov said in response to a TASS reporter’s question.
No sequence has been present thus far to organize the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the briefing, TASS reports.
"No sequence has been established thus far, I reiterate, we should arm ourselves with patience," Peskov told reporters.
Putin and Trump held a telephone conversation on February 12. The leaders of Russia and the United States discussed about the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and a range of other topics. They also agreed to maintain communication and organize a face-to-face meeting.
Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet with Vladimir Putin. He spoke about it both during the election campaign in the fall of 2024 and immediately after his inauguration on January 20.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed energy issues in their telephone conversation on February 12, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, TASS reports.
"The energy sector," he said, answering the question about the specific economic topic discussed between the two leaders.
The Kremlin Spokesman did not detain energy issues covered by the presidents. "I have no update on this topic," Peskov added.
Putin and Trump discussed bilateral Russian-US relations in the economic sphere during their conversation, the Kremlin said earlier.
The Kremlin is not yet prepared to disclose which countries may potentially be involved in negotiations on Ukraine, or whether China will be one of them, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, TASS reports.
"At this point, it is impossible to provide any details about the parties involved in the talks. No substantive discussions have taken place at the working level yet," he said, responding to a question on the subject during the briefing.
Peskov was asked about this in the context of yesterday’s discussion between the two presidents, where the intention to resolve the Ukraine crisis peacefully, through talks, was emphasized.
"The political will of the heads of state was expressed and instructions were given. But this took place last evening Moscow time. It is now noon of the following day. So here we must exercise a little patience," the Kremlin official noted.
He also added that Russia and China have been united by strong and multidimensional partner relations. "Certainly, we intend to nurture them in every way in the future. We highly value the ties of our specialized privileged strategic partnership with China," Putin’s press secretary added.
Mutual invitations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump to visit both countries and the organization of their bilateral meeting are separate proceedings, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized at a briefing, TASS reports.
"Exchanging mutual invitations is one thing, while focusing on a separate bilateral meeting is a different process," the Kremlin spokesman pointed out.
"There is an invitation, and the invitation is mutual — the presidents have mentioned it," Peskov said. "However, there is no specific understanding on this matter so far," he added.
In a conversation held the day before, Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow and received an invitation in return.
Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to meet with Vladimir Putin. He spoke about it both during the election campaign in the fall of 2024 and immediately after his inauguration on January 20.
Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump did not discuss the recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, as well as Donbass and Novorossiya by the West in their phone call, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, TASS reports.
"No, this topic did not come up yesterday [in the talk between Putin and Trump]. There is no need to rush, we need to be patient. Working contacts are only set to begin," Peskov said.
Peskov announced on Wednesday that Putin’s telephone call with Trump lasted almost for an hour and a half and they discussed the conflict in Ukraine, the ongoing developments in the Middle East, as well as the issue of the swap of convicted citizens of the two countries, along with other subjects.
The leaders of Russia and the United States agreed to continue contacts and hold a personal meeting in the future, Peskov added then.
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