[Rare posture: Putin confirms willingness to hold unconditional dialogue with Kiev]

On April 26, Kremlin spokesman Peskov commented on the meeting between Putin and US envoy Witkow on April 25, stating that Moscow is ready to negotiate on the Ukraine issue without preconditions - "In yesterday's conversation with Trump's envoy Witkow, Vladimir Putin reiterated that the Russian side is prepared to resume negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions." Previously, Putin had questioned the legitimacy of the Zelensky regime and the legal status of negotiating and reaching agreements with it.

The Russian participants in the negotiations include presidential aide Ushakov, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and special representative of the president for investment economic cooperation with foreign countries, Kirill Dmitriev. Ushakov said that the meeting lasted three hours, "This talk not only brought the positions of Russia and the United States on the Ukraine issue closer, but also narrowed the positions on a series of other international issues." Kirill Dmitriev posted a video of the American representative shaking hands with Putin on the platform X and wrote: "Things are moving forward."

Peskov agreed that Witkow's visit to Moscow belongs to "shuttle diplomacy." He came to see Putin with a message from Trump, and left with a message from the Russian leader to the US President. Peskov said that this form is preferable to telephone conversations because it is easier to explain all details in face-to-face talks. "This is a good opportunity to convey our position to the American side."

The meeting between Putin and Witkow was conducted against the backdrop of the failure of the London negotiations. Originally, Witkow himself, US Secretary of State Rubio, foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany, as well as Yermak, head of Zelensky's office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dubina, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Umierov were supposed to attend the London negotiations.

As a result, the negotiations took place without the participation of US representatives and foreign ministers of European countries. It is reported that the reason was that Zelensky refused to accept the proposal put forward by the US to make territorial concessions before a comprehensive ceasefire.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830527555735564/

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