TASS: Media leaks, upcoming US envoy visit – What Kremlin aide said

Yury Ushakov witk TV reporter Pavel Zarubin

A tentative agreement has been struck that US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow next week, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.

He added that the leaked transcripts of his alleged conversations with Witkoff were intended to hinder efforts to improve Russia-US relations. Ushakov also said that Russian and Ukrainian intelligence officers held occasional meetings in the UAE to discuss sensitive issues, including prisoner swaps.

TASS has compiled the key points from what the Russian presidential aide said.

On Witkoff’s visit to Moscow

There is a tentative agreement for Witkoff to visit Moscow next week: "A tentative agreement has been reached that he will come to Moscow next week."

Russia and the US have not yet engaged in discussions of the Ukraine pace plan, but the process will begin during Witkoff’s visit to Moscow; the US envoy won’t be travelling to Russia alone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to receive the US envoy: "If Witkoff comes, the Russian president will definitely receive him."

On media leaks

The goal of leaking the transcripts of Ushakov’s alleged conversations with Witkoff is to hinder efforts to strengthen Russia-US relations: "It’s probably to hinder the process. This is hardly being done to improve relations."

It’s not clear where the media obtained information on phone calls between Moscow and Washington: "Some are tapping, some are leaking, but it’s not us."

Phone calls with Witkoff happen often, but Russia never discloses confidential conversations to the media: "I don’t comment on the essence of the conversations, as they are confidential. No one should comment on such things."

On Russia-US dialogue

Russia and the US continue to build relations, particularly through phone calls, even though it’s a difficult process. "They [Russia-US relations] continue to be built, albeit with difficulties. The process involves this kind of communication, including over the phone."

On Abu Dhabi meetings

A new US official has held an apparently planned meeting with Kiev officials and a completely unexpected meeting with Russian officials in the United Arab Emirates. "The new US official currently responsible for the Ukraine issue suddenly turned up at the meeting. "As far as I understand, he met with Ukrainian officials, which must have been agreed in advance. He also held a meeting with our representatives, which was completely unexpected".

Washington’s peace plan for Ukraine was not discussed at the Abu Dhabi talks: "The peace plan has not been discussed in detail with anyone. We have seen it, we have received it, but there have been no discussions yet."

Officers from Russian and Ukrainian intelligence agencies hold "occasional meetings" in the United Arab Emirates to discuss sensitive issues such as prisoner swaps.

On US peace plan

Russia has not yet been formally presented with the US peace plan for Ukraine, but the document has been sent to Moscow through unofficial channels. "It’s not official, but we have the document."

Russia has unofficially received several versions of the peace plan, which "is even confusing." "Let’s say that we have some of the latest versions. I believe this is the case."

The two countries’ teams have not yet held serious discussions but Russia and the US maintain contact, "including over the phone." "No one has come to the table yet to discuss specific provisions."

Russia is positive about certain provisions of the US peace plan for Ukraine, "but many things require specialized discussions among experts."

Russia has not discussed the details of the US peace plan with anyone, while a number of its provisions "require really serious analysis and serious discussion."

The Europeans are "unnecessarily" interfering with the Ukraine peace process.

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