Kremlin On Putin-Trump Talks Over Ukraine War: 'No Conditions, Only Mutual Desire And Political Will Required’

Putin has expressed openness to talks without preconditions, welcoming Trump's "readiness to solve problems through dialogue." The meeting could be arranged after Trump's inauguration on January 20th.

File photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin

Source : PTI

Taking a step further to hold a meeting between US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin on Friday said that President Putin was open to talk with Donald Trump, after the incoming US president said a meeting between the pair was being set up.

Welcoming Donald Trump’s “readiness to solve problems through dialogue", Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow will hold talks without any preconditions, and added that only mutual desire and political will are required to solve problems. Peskov said there could be progress on setting up the meeting between Trump and Putin after the former is sworn in as US president on January 20.

"The president has repeatedly stated his openness to contact with international leaders, including the U.S. president, including Donald Trump," Peskov told reporters, as reported by LeMonde.

Donald Trump on Thursday said that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is possibly being set up. In a recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said that he is aware that Putin would like to meet him. He further added that such a meeting would only be appropriate after his inauguration. "President Putin wants to meet, he’s said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with, that’s a bloody mess,” Trump said.

As per Reuters, Peskov was highly critical of outgoing US President Joe Biden, however, he spoke positively of Trump. He added that the US administration-led by Biden, which is in its final 10 days, "intends to continue doing everything to continue the war", including possible new sanctions against Russia. "We are aware that the administration will certainly try to leave the most burdensome legacy in terms of bilateral relations for the incoming Trump and his associates," Peskov said.

During Joe Biden's term as US president, the country has committed over $175 billion in aid for Ukraine, including over $60 billion in security assistance.