Russian President Vladimir V. Putin met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Thursday night and is now hoping to talk with President Trump about a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov told reporters on Friday that in recent days, after a series of diplomacy, there is a reason to be “cautious” about the prospects of the war. He was equally optimistic comments late Thursday by Mr. Trump’s national security adviser Michael Waltz.
Mr Peskov's comments show that Russia is eager to negotiate with the United States on Ukraine.
Before meeting with Mr. Vickov on Thursday, Mr. Putin stated that he is not in a hurry to accept a 30-day truce proposal from Ukraine and the United States this week. Mr Putin said at a press conference that he was willing to accept the proposal but suggested that he try to negotiate a range of issues, such as the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine, which could delay any deal or make it impossible.
Mr. Peskov said on Friday that Mr. Vikov “provide more information to the Russian side” and that Mr. Putin “passed President Trump’s message and other signals.”
But Mr. Peskov suggested that diplomacy and the result of back and forth was only after Mr. Witkov briefed Mr. Trump, and after Russian and American leaders spoke over the phone. Mr Peskov added that the timing of Trump-Pudin's appeal has not been determined. The last time the two leaders were published on February 12.
“We will determine the timing of the dialogue after Mr. Vikov passes to his head of state through all the information he received in Moscow,” Peskov said. “There is an understanding that this dialogue must be held.”
Mr. Peskov's comments are the latest signs that Mr. Putin appears to be trying to balance his desire to avoid Mr. Trump's efforts to force concessions in the West and Ukraine. Mr. Trump said he wanted to end the war as soon as possible, but Mr. Putin seemed confident that he had time to be with him and an unconditional ceasefire would benefit Ukraine.
Mr. Witkov or the broader Trump administration did not immediately comment on the meeting with Putin. Mr. Witkov, who is officially the president's Middle East envoy, also served as a key role as Russia's interlocutor – spent three hours last month with Mr. Putin as he completed a prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States.
Ukraine has agreed to support the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, but only if Russia does so. On Thursday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a press conference that Mr. Putin set a number of conditions: “There is no solution at all, or it will not be as long as possible.”
But Mr. Waltz, a U.S. national security adviser, later said on Fox News that the White House was “cautiously optimistic” about the prospect of a ceasefire. He said Mr. Vikov “is bringing us something to evaluate and letting President Trump make a decision in the next step.”
“Of course, both sides will have their demands, and of course, both sides must make some compromises,” Waltz said of Putin's press conference.
