The Kremlin has expressed its approval of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s willingness to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a senior official in Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced during a conference call that Russia is open to talks without imposing any preconditions.
Trump indicated on Thursday that Putin is eager to meet and that arrangements for such a meeting are underway. He suggested that the discussions would focus on resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has persisted for nearly three years. “We have to get that war over with,” Trump said, emphasizing the need for dialogue.
The President-elect has been critical of the United States’ financial support for Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russian forces. He controversially referred to Putin as “pretty smart” for his aggressive actions and has lauded Russia’s historical military successes, despite the International Criminal Court’s allegations of war crimes against Putin.
Ukrainian officials have voiced concerns about the potential reduction or cessation of U.S. aid, given that the United States is Ukraine’s largest benefactor. They fear that a decrease in support could jeopardize their defense efforts against the Russian invasion.
The outgoing Biden administration continues to bolster Ukraine with significant military assistance, recently approving an additional $500 million armament package. This is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s position for any future negotiations intended to resolve the conflict.
Peskov noted that the Biden administration may be looking to create a challenging legacy in U.S.-Russia relations for Trump and his team to navigate. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asserted that any future peace talks must include guarantees of protection against Russia, which has invaded Ukraine on two occasions in this century. He emphasized that Europe cannot be solely relied upon for such security provisions.
“European security guarantees are insufficient for Ukraine in facing an adversary like Russia. We require joint security assurances from both the U.S. and Europe,” Zelenskyy stated.
Following a meeting in Germany attended by senior officials from over 50 nations, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is set to receive $2 billion in military aid packages. Ukraine already has partnerships with 34 countries in various sectors, including air and missile defense, digital security, demining, and naval collaboration, he noted.
Additionally, Ukraine has marked a significant milestone by receiving funds from the European Union generated from frozen Russian assets, as highlighted by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday. The Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine is a collaborative effort among G7 countries aiming to provide nearly $50 billion in non-repayable financial support to Ukraine, with the recent receipt of three billion Euros earmarked for essential budget expenditures, according to Shmyhal.
