Kremlin issues statement on upcoming meeting between Putin and Witkoff
Photo: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (Getty Images)
The Kremlin hopes that US negotiator Steve Witkoff will soon brief Russian President Vladimir Putin on his talks with Ukrainians and Europeans, according to a statement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to Russian media.
Journalists noted that talks on resolving the war in Ukraine will take place in Norway today. They will be attended by Trump’s negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Peskov was asked whether Witkoff would travel to Russia afterward and whether such a meeting was on the Kremlin leader’s schedule.
"We hope that it will be possible to arrange a meeting in the near future and that the American negotiators, Mr. Witkoff, will be able to brief President Putin on their contacts with both the Ukrainians and the Europeans, as well as continue exchanging signals between Washington and Moscow on a number of very important issues," Peskov said.
"Every time, we consider such meetings very important. They are timely on every occasion, highly substantive, and we greatly appreciate the mediation efforts of the American negotiators," he added.
Another journalist asked whether it was true that Witkoff and Kushner would meet with the Kremlin leader in St. Petersburg, as reported by the media.
“We will inform you when and where the meeting will take place,” Peskov replied.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Russia has proposed holding a trilateral summit with the US and China in November to reach an agreement on ending the war on terms favorable to Moscow.
Zelenskyy is not expected to be invited to the meeting.
As RBC-Ukraine reported, Peskov also stated that a final agreement to end the war would be impossible without representatives of Kyiv.
He did not specify whom Moscow would like to see representing Ukraine at the talks.
