Russian President Vladimir Putin is assembling a group of veteran negotiators to interact with U.S. President Donald Trump's representatives in potential talks to finish Russia's battle in opposition to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 14, citing sources aware of the matter.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Feb. 13 that Moscow has begun forming a delegation for negotiations with the USA, following a cellphone name between Putin and Trump.
Putin's group will reportedly embrace Yuriy Ushakov, his longtime international coverage aide and former Russian ambassador to the U.S.; Sergey Naryshkin, director of the International Intelligence Service (SVR); and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Funding Fund and an in depth affiliate of Putin's youngest daughter, Katerina Tikhonova.
Ushakov has been concerned in Russian diplomatic efforts for many years and took part in earlier negotiations with Ukraine in 2022.
Dmitriev has performed a task in diplomatic exchanges, together with the latest launch of American instructor Marc Fogel from Russian detention, in response to Reuters.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
Naryshkin, a longtime Putin ally who first met the Russian chief within the KGB within the Eighties, has headed the SVR since 2016 and was additionally a part of Russia's 2022 negotiations with Ukraine.
Different members of the Kremlin's 2022 negotiating group could later be part of, with Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky doubtlessly enjoying a task in talks involving Ukrainian representatives, in response to Bloomberg's sources.
Moscow and Kyiv engaged in direct negotiations in Belarus and Turkey in the course of the early months of the full-scale invasion, however these talks finally failed. No formal direct discussions between the 2 sides have taken place since then.
Trump has tasked his personal delegation, together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz, to steer negotiations.
The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasised that it views the U.S. as its "predominant counterpart" in efforts to finish the battle.
Zelensky mentioned that he desires European allies to be concerned in peace negotiations. Kyiv insists that no talks about Ukraine and ending Russia's battle must be held with out Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentNataliya Bugayova