Kremlin Denies Plans for Putin-Trump Talks, Leaves Door Open
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Synopsis
On March 25, the Kremlin stated that there are currently no scheduled high-level discussions between President Putin and President Trump, but circumstances may change quickly. Recent talks have highlighted the importance of peace in Ukraine.
Key Takeaways
- The Kremlin confirmed no current plans for Putin-Trump discussions.
- Recent phone calls focused on achieving peace in Ukraine.
- Russia supports the revival of the Black Sea Initiative.
- Concerns arise about the food crisis in Africa.
- New US-Russian talks are underway in Saudi Arabia.
Moscow, March 25 (NationPress) The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that there are currently no plans for high-level discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, although the situation can evolve quickly if needed.
According to a report by Russia's state-run news agency TASS, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated during a media briefing in Moscow, "At this moment, there are no plans for a high-level dialogue. However, if the need arises, such discussions can be arranged swiftly."
Recently, Trump and Putin engaged in a phone call, emphasizing the importance of establishing peace and a ceasefire to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both leaders concurred that the path to peace would commence with a ceasefire concerning energy and infrastructure, along with technical talks about implementing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a full ceasefire, and lasting peace.
In a separate interview, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Moscow supports the revival of the Black Sea Initiative, albeit in a manner that is more universally acceptable.
Lavrov mentioned that Russia is in favor of reintroducing the Black Sea Initiative in a form that better accommodates all parties, stating that this topic was prioritized during the recent Russia-US discussions in Riyadh.
"Our stance is straightforward: we cannot trust this man’s word," Lavrov remarked, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He expressed Russia's desire for the grain and fertilizer markets to be stable and predictable.
Moscow is concerned about the food crisis affecting Africa and other regions in the Global South due to the conflict.
The Black Sea Initiative, often dubbed the grain deal, facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and normalized the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to international markets.
Moscow has claimed that despite existing agreements, the West has redirected a significant portion of Ukrainian grain to its own countries, failing to meet the primary goal of supplying grain to those in need. As a result, Moscow exited the deal in July 2023.
Currently, US and Russian delegations have initiated a fresh round of discussions in Saudi Arabia, aiming for a settlement in Ukraine and a ceasefire in the Black Sea before establishing a broader agreement.
The meeting between Russian and US expert teams in the Saudi capital on Monday was intricate but productive for both nations, according to Russian delegate Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, who participated in the negotiations, as reported by TASS.
"We addressed various topics, and the dialogue was comprehensive and complex yet quite beneficial for us and the Americans. We covered numerous matters," he stated.
