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Communication with Washington has intensified since the new administration took office, Moscow has said
Moscow’s engagement with Washington has increased since Donald Trump’s inauguration as the US president, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a media briefing on Wednesday. There are contacts between “certain departments” he reported, declining to elaborate.
Last Friday, Trump told reporters that communication is ongoing between his administration and the Russian government and reiterated his goal of putting a swift end to the Ukraine conflict. Prior to taking office on January 20, Trump expressed frustration over being forced to limit diplomatic outreach in his capacity as president-elect, even as the death toll from the hostilities continued to rise.
Russia has responded to Trump’s rhetoric with cautious optimism, but insists on a comprehensive resolution of the crisis rather than a freeze of the conflict – a scenario that some reports suggest may be Washington’s goal. Officials in Moscow argue that NATO’s expansion in Europe and Kiev’s discrimination against ethnic Russians must be addressed for a sustainable truce.
Additionally, Moscow questions the legal authority of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to sign any treaties on behalf of Ukraine, citing the expiration of his presidential term last year. Kiev has suspended elections under martial law, while Zelensky contends that his rule remains legitimate because in 2019 he won in a landslide.
Despite those concerns, Peskov said Russia “remains open to negotiations,” adding that as Russian forces continue to gain territory it is in Kiev’s interest to agree to talks sooner rather than later.
On Tuesday, Zelensky announced that an American delegation will soon visit Kiev, without specifying the date. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, was reportedly set to travel to the country last month, but postponed his trip over what Zelensky described as “legal reasons.” According to the Ukrainian media, the senior US official is expected to arrive sometime after February 11.
Zelensky has urged Trump to adhere to the principle “peace through strength” by preserving US military assistance to Kiev and increasing pressure on Russia, forcing Moscow to meet Ukrainian demands during potential peace negotiations.
