The Kremlin validated Thursday that United States mediators were on their way to Moscow for prepared talks as Washington looks for to convince Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.Negotiators are flying in, and certainly, contacts are arranged, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told press reporters, without defining the members of the United States delegation.Earlier, the White House stated that United States President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, a mediator in the Gaza and Ukraine conflicts, would remain in Moscow this week.Flight trackers and Russian state media video showed Witkoffs airplane landing at Moscows Vnukovo Airport around 12:30 p.m.
regional time Thursday.According to business newspaper Kommersant, President Vladimir Putin prepares to consult with Witkoff later on Thursday, following discussions with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.Peskov likewise stated Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov consulted with United States National Security Adviser Mike Waltz by phone the day before.Ushakov, inquired about his conversation with Waltz, appeared to put cold water on the 30-day ceasefire proposal in astatement to state media aired Thursday.I naturally discussed the contracts reached concerning the short-lived truce and outlined our position that this is nothing more than a brief break for Ukrainian forces absolutely nothing else, the Kremlin aide said.These type of actions, which merely imitate peace efforts, appear unnecessary to anyone in this situation, Ushakov added.The talks come days after Ukraine accepted a United States -brokered 30-day ceasefire during negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
Moscow has actually requested further details before indicating whether it will accept the proposal.Trump stated Wednesday he hoped Putin would agree to the truce or face extremely bad, terrible monetary sanctions.But I dont want to do that because I wish to see peace.
And were getting close to getting something done, Trump informed reporters.Russia, grappling with financial stress, has pushed for sanctions relief as part of any offer.
Peskov on Thursday repeated Moscows stance that the sanctions are unlawful however declined to comment further ahead of negotiations.United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the American negotiating team in talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, stated Washington desires Moscow to agree to the ceasefire with no preconditions.Putin, however, signaled on the day of Trumps inauguration in January that he would not accept a momentary ceasefire and would continue pursuing Russias mentioned interests in Ukraine.Anonymous sources told Reuters on Wednesday that Russia provided the United States with a list of broad needs similar to its previous warnings to Ukraine, Washington and NATO.AFP contributed reporting.