Kremlin Believes US Mediators Will Soon Travel to Moscow for Peace Talks

Moscow is expressing optimism regarding the resumption of stalled peace negotiations with Ukraine, with the Kremlin anticipating the imminent arrival of US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov conveyed this expectation, stating, "Sooner or later, I believe very soon our usual colleagues, Witkoff and Kushner, will come to Moscow and we will continue the dialogue with them." Ushakov emphasized that the current deadlock stems from Ukraine's refusal to take the "first step" – a complete withdrawal of its troops from the entire Donbas region, a non-negotiable demand from Russia. He lamented that despite numerous rounds of talks, the situation remains unchanged because of this fundamental disagreement. Ushakov pointedly remarked that "Ukraine knows what needs to be done and that sooner or later they will do it anyway," suggesting an underlying belief in Moscow that Kyiv will eventually yield to the demand, possibly under pressure from its European allies. However, he noted that with the "help of the Europeans," Ukrainians "refuse even to talk about that step," a position reportedly backed by the United States. President Putin himself recently stated his readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only to sign a peace treaty, not to negotiate further terms. This stance contrasts with Zelenskyy's position, which prioritizes security guarantees for Kyiv and maintains that Ukraine's constitution prohibits ceding territory. The Kremlin also dismissed speculation that Washington might abandon its mediation role, citing the recent intensification of contacts between the US and both warring parties. Ushakov highlighted the recent ceasefire, achieved after intense US-led talks, as evidence of ongoing diplomatic engagement, acknowledging that securing the truce for Russia's Victory Day celebrations was "not easy."

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Tarde o temprano, creo que muy pronto nuestros colegas habituales, Witkoff y Kushner, vendrán a Moscú y continuaremos con ellos el diálogo