Trump and Putin aides held secret meeting on Ukraine — FT
Photo: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
One of US President Donald Trump's close associates, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., recently held secret talks with Kremlin representatives, according to the Financial Times.
This refers to a secret diplomatic mission initiated by the White House itself.
The fact is that Trump's team is trying to find a way to engage with Vladimir Putin following the failure of its previous peace efforts.
Insiders claim that Cook Jr. received exhaustive briefings before attending the Kremlin leader's economic forum in St. Petersburg in June.
Trump's aide met with Anton Kobyakov, Putin’s senior aide, though likely not only with him.
The parties focused on the issue of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Cook Jr. declined to comment on his meetings with Russian officials, as well as on whether Trump had asked him to continue these contacts and whether he would return there in the near future.
"There are many requests. We’re working on that now," he said.
During his presentation at the forum, Cook conveyed to Putin sincere greetings from your friend, President Trump.
The day before, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia did not plan to freeze hostilities along the entire front line or agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.
