• Source:JND

As US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office next year, the Kremlin has indicated that President Vladimir Putin is open to discussions with Trump regarding the Ukraine conflict. However, the Kremlin emphasised on Friday that Putin’s openness to dialogue does not imply any intention to modify Moscow’s current demands or stance on the issue. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed questions on Friday regarding whether President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to discuss Ukraine with Trump signalled any potential shift in Russia’s demands.

“The president has never said that the goals of the special military operation are changing. On the contrary, he has repeatedly said that they remain the same,” Peskov said.

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Peskov emphasised that Russia's demands regarding Ukraine are based on safeguarding national security and protecting Russian citizens in the region, stating that there is no consideration of altering these positions.

Trump Hints At Considering Russia’s Demands

Russia indicated that if the US seeks the peace deal Trump proposed during his campaign, substantial concessions would be required, with a particularly steep price for Ukraine.

In recent years, Russia has set several conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, but the Biden administration largely dismissed these as ultimatums rather than genuine negotiation efforts.

During his campaign, Trump indicated he might consider Russia's demands, suggesting sanctions should be applied ‘very judiciously’ to safeguard the dollar's global influence. When asked if he’d stayed in contact with Putin, Trump didn’t respond directly but stated that engaging with Russia would be ‘a smart thing’ for a US president.

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Putin on Thursday congratulated Trump on his US election victory, praised his courage following an assassination attempt in July, and expressed Moscow's readiness for dialogue. He also acknowledged Trump's comments about wanting to end the war, calling them worthy of attention.

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