Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, announced that Moscow is open to dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the sake of peaceful negotiations.
As noted by The Wall Street Journal, this marks a significant shift following prolonged assertions from Russia regarding the "illegitimacy" of the Ukrainian leader.
"The Kremlin's confirmation of contacts is the first concrete indication of progress in negotiations after several months of uncertainty about Trump's ability to fulfill his promises. The absence of any confirmed interactions between the two leaders or plans for a meeting, which Trump publicly called for, left observers wondering how swiftly any potential talks could commence."
Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisors are intensifying efforts to pressure Russia through sanctions or by lowering prices on Russian oil to compel the Kremlin to make concessions.
"If negotiations begin in earnest, both sides will face numerous pressing issues, including whether Russia will retain all the Ukrainian territories it occupied during hostilities and whether Moscow will receive any easing of sanctions," the publication states.
For Ukraine, key concerns remain regarding its future role in the Western security architecture and guarantees that Russia will not engage in further aggression.
Source: wsj.