A gathering between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump shouldn’t be at present on the desk on account of unresolved tensions in bilateral relations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated in an interview with Russian state-controlled newspaper Izvestia on June 19.
The U.S. president has repeatedly floated the thought of assembly Putin, saying the Russia-Ukraine battle can’t be resolved with out them speaking face-to-face. However, the 2 haven’t met since Trump returned to the White Home this January.
Whereas Trump has adopted a extra amicable coverage towards Russia than his predecessor, U.S. ex-President Joe Biden, he has taken a extra crucial tone towards Moscow lately as Putin continues to reject a truce in Ukraine.
"Till the mandatory 'homework' is finished to take away the irritants in our relationships with the US, it is senseless to arrange a gathering," Peskov stated. He added that whereas talks geared toward resolving these points had begun, progress remained minimal and the important thing obstacles have been nonetheless in place.
His remarks come simply days after the Russian Overseas Ministry claimed that Washington had canceled the subsequent spherical of talks to revive diplomatic relations between the 2 nations.
The conferences, which have been anticipated to happen in Moscow, have been a part of a broader dialogue to deal with ongoing disputes, together with Russia's battle in opposition to Ukraine, and enhance the functioning of every aspect's diplomatic missions.
Russian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated the deliberate spherical was meant to "get rid of irritants," resembling staffing restrictions and banking points for embassies. She expressed hope that the U.S. pause in talks "won’t grow to be too lengthy."
The final two rounds of discussions, in Riyadh in February and Istanbul in April, marked the primary formal diplomatic contact between the U.S. and Russia since Moscow started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Each side described the Istanbul spherical as "constructive," although it centered largely on technical issues.
The Trump administration has up to now kept away from introducing new sanctions in opposition to Russia, regardless of strain from Kyiv and rising alarm in Europe over Moscow's continued refusal to conform to a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly urged Washington to take a firmer stance, warning that "America's silence… solely encourages Putin."
After a lethal Russian assault on Kyiv that killed 28 and injured over 130 individuals, Trump remained silent, with the U.S. Embassy solely issuing a late assertion denouncing the assault.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek