By Dmitry Antonov and Guy Faulconbridge
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Thursday it was impressed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s position on ending the war in Ukraine, and that preparations were under way for a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump and Putin spoke for over an hour on Wednesday, the first known direct contact between U.S. and Russian presidents since Putin had a call with Joe Biden shortly before ordering thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
The Trump contact with Putin, along with U.S. remarks about Ukraine having to accept it would not regain all its territory and that NATO membership was not practical for Kyiv, drew criticism from some European diplomats and ex-U.S. officials.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the call was very important and that there was political will on both the Russian and U.S. sides to find a settlement and end the war.
“There is a political will which was emphasised during yesterday’s conversation to conduct a dialogue in search of a settlement,” Peskov said. “There is agreement that a peaceful negotiated settlement is possible.”
Peskov contrasted former U.S. President Joe Biden administration’s approach to that of Trump, saying Russia was impressed by Trump.
“The previous U.S. administration held the view that everything needed to be done to keep the war going. The current administration, as far as we understand, adheres to the point of view that everything must be done to stop the war and for peace to prevail,” Peskov told reporters.
“We are more impressed with the position of the current administration, and we are open to dialogue.”
Asked about European demands to be represented in Ukraine peace talks, Peskov said: “As for Europe’s participation, there is no understanding yet of the format of a possible negotiation process, so it is premature to talk about it.”
In Brussels on Thursday, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe and Ukraine needed to be involved in peace talks for any deal to work. European leaders were scrambling to try to get a seat at the negotiating table.
Trump has repeatedly said he wants to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but given few details of how to do so.
Senior Russian officials said the call showed the misguidedness of hopes that Russia could ever be defeated. Putin’s foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, said Ukrainian statehood faced collapse.
Ukraine says it is fighting for its existence against an imperial-style invasion by Russia, three decades after Kyiv gained independence when the Soviet Union broke up. Russia now controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory in the east and south.
TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT
Asked about Putin’s invitation to Trump to visit Moscow, Peskov said there was an exchange of mutual invitations but that the meeting in question was a different track.
Peskov did not elaborate on Putin’s talks with Trump, saying it was premature to discuss details about a territorial settlement, and that Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war were not discussed.
He said the energy sector was discussed.
Trump said on Tuesday the meeting with Putin would probably take place in Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved in negotiations for the recent release of U.S. teacher Marc Fogel from Russian custody.
Peskov said details of the meeting were yet to be worked out. He declined comment on who initiated the phone call.
Peskov said a Russian negotiating group was being formed but gave no details, pending a decision by Putin on who would be the chief negotiator.
The Wall Street Journal reported that China has floated a proposal to hold a Putin-Trump summit.
“So far, it is impossible to say anything about the configuration of the parties, because there have not yet been substantive contacts at the working level,” Peskov said.
“China is our partner. And we greatly value the relations of our advanced privileged strategic partnership with China.”
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Mark Heinrich)
