Emissary of U.S. president Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin, who had a three-hour conversation on Friday, managed to reduce the differences between the positions of America and Russia on ending the conflict in Ukraine," informed Russian leader Yuri Uszakov, quoted by Reuter.
Uszakov told journalists that politicians discussed the anticipation of reopening direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, and besides assessed that the talks were "constructive and very useful" and outside Ukraine besides afraid another global issues.
Reuters recalls that Moscow and Kiev have not had direct talks since the early phase of the Russian invasion. Trump's envoy has not commented on the talks with Russia's leader yet.
Witkoff, who arrived in Moscow earlier on Friday, became Putin's chief American interlocutor – it was his 4th gathering with the Russian leader in the last 3 months. CNN pointed out that in terms of contacts with Kremlin Trump had marginalized the head of American diplomacy Marc Rubio just for the benefit of Witkoffa; Rubio, before joining the fresh administration, was a supporter of Ukraine's support.
Trump stated in an interview published on Friday with the weekly magazine “Times” that “Crim stays in Russia” and added that “everyone understands that he was Russian for a long time (...). (Russians) had their submarines there for many years. People talk Russian to a large degree in Crimea." According to Trump, negotiators are “very close” to developing a peace agreement,” reports the Associated Press.
Source: PAP
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