Russia has welcomed US President-elect Donald Trump’s statement to resolve problems through dialogue, Kremlin official Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, reaffirming Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to meet with Trump.
“There may be progress in organizing a meeting between Trump and Putin after Trump takes office on January 20,” Psekov declared.
On Friday, Trump emphasized that they are working on organizing a meeting between him and Putin, but did not give the time set for this.
Trump has repeatedly stated during the election campaign that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office, but now he and his advisers have suggested it could take months after he takes office.
His return to the White House has given hope for a diplomatic solution, but also raised fears in Kiev that a peace deal will be too costly for Ukraine.
Peskov said that Putin has repeatedly reiterated his willingness to hold talks with world leaders, including Trump.
“There are no conditions for this, only a mutual desire and political will for dialogue, and the solution of current problems through dialogue is required. We see that Trump has also declared his willingness to resolve issues through dialogue, and we welcome that,” he said.
Peskov has emphasized that there are no specific plans for the meeting yet, but Russia is working on the assumption that both sides are open to it. “As can be seen, after Trump enters the Oval Office, there will be movement.”
Trump said on Thursday that “Putin wants to meet, he has said publicly that we should stop the war, it’s a bloody mess.”