Today at 12:01
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has said that it is not enough for him to just meet with US President Donald Trump – he needs to “ensure that the most important issues are worked out.”
The Kremlin leader says that Russia is ready to return to the negotiating table on Ukraine, but it is not enough for them to just meet with Trump, they need to “ensure that the most important issues are worked out.”
Putin reiterated that Russia had never refused to engage in dialogue with Europe or Ukraine, but that they themselves had “stopped contacts with Moscow.”
He said that he would be “happy to meet with Trump,” but that the meeting should be prepared. At the same time, Putin is not ready to say when such a meeting might take place.
Putin emphasized that there is no need for intermediaries in the dialogue between Russia and the United States.
The Russian leader said that he highly appreciated the outcome of the talks in Riyadh, and clarified that “completely different people” were present at the talks on the American side, without bias or judgment. “I rate them highly, there is a result,” Putin said.
He also said that at the talks in Saudi Arabia, the parties agreed to “resume the normal work of diplomatic missions.”
In addition, Putin said, the first step was taken in Riyadh to resume work in “a wide variety of areas” of “mutual interest.” In particular, he said, the issue of the Russian presence in Syria was discussed.
