Moscow, March 25 (IANS) – The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that there are currently no scheduled high-level discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that if necessary, such discussions could be organized promptly.
“So far, there are no plans for a high-level talk. If needed, such discussions can be arranged quickly,” Russia’s state-run news agency TASS quoted Peskov as saying during a media briefing in Moscow.
Recent Diplomatic Engagements and the Ukraine Conflict
Last week, Trump and Putin engaged in a telephonic conversation, focusing on the urgent need for peace and a ceasefire to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both leaders acknowledged that initial steps toward peace should begin with a ceasefire in key sectors, including energy and infrastructure, followed by technical negotiations aimed at achieving a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. The broader objective remains a full ceasefire and the establishment of a lasting peace agreement.
Russia’s Position on the Black Sea Initiative
In a related development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in an interview with a local broadcaster that Moscow remains open to reviving the Black Sea Initiative, albeit in a format that is more equitable and beneficial for all stakeholders.
“Our position is simple: we cannot take this man at his word,” Lavrov remarked, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized Russia’s commitment to ensuring stability in global food markets, particularly in Africa and other countries of the Global South, which have been adversely affected by the conflict.
The Black Sea Initiative, commonly referred to as the grain deal, was established to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain via Black Sea ports while simultaneously ensuring the normalization of Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to global markets. However, Moscow withdrew from the agreement in July 2023, citing Western nations’ alleged redirection of Ukrainian grain supplies for their own benefit rather than addressing the needs of food-insecure countries.
U.S.-Russia Talks in Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, with U.S. and Russian delegations engaging in a new round of negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The discussions aim to establish a Ukraine settlement and negotiate a Black Sea ceasefire before advancing toward a broader peace agreement.
Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs and a key participant in the negotiations, described the talks as complex but productive.
“We discussed everything, and the dialogue was detailed and complex but quite useful for us and for the Americans. We addressed multiple issues,” Karasin told TASS.
As global attention remains on these high-stakes negotiations, the possibility of a formal agreement between Moscow and Washington continues to evolve, with both sides exploring avenues for de-escalation and long-term stability in the region.
Recent Random Post:
