Kremlin: Putin downplayed the importance of resuming talks with Ukraine during call with Trump

The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin informed US President Donald Trump on Friday that Kyiv had undermined the possibility of an immediate resumption of trilateral peace talks on Ukraine, following drone attacks on Moscow during last month’s elections.

Trump has so far, unsuccessfully, attempted to mediate a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine, which erupted with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the Russian war in Ukraine had reached a dangerous impasse, and that the United States would continue working toward a settlement to end the conflict.

Putin stated that Moscow had been ready to resume negotiations with Kyiv after last month’s Russian parliamentary elections, but Ukraine had launched attacks on Moscow and targeted polling stations, adding that this had jeopardized the peace process.

Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, commenting on the phone call with Trump, said: “By launching a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and other cities and polling stations, as well as targeting specific individuals involved in organizing the elections on the main election day, the Kyiv regime has effectively disrupted the possibility of an immediate resumption of negotiations.”

He added, “Now, as the President said, we will consider when to resume those negotiations,” referring to the trilateral talks involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.

Ushakov also said that Putin and Trump discussed major economic initiatives during the phone call, including potential supplies of Russian fuel.

Trump said on Friday after his call with Putin that Russia had agreed to immediately supply diesel to US and global markets in an attempt to lower fuel prices ahead of next month’s US midterm elections, although analysts said the volumes were unlikely to lead to a significant drop in prices.