Putin Tells Trump Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Moscow Hindered Immediate Resumption of Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Friday that Ukraine had undermined the possibility of immediately resuming trilateral peace talks on the war in Ukraine by hitting Moscow with drones during last month's election, the Kremlin said. The talks involve the United States, Russia and Ukraine. The war began with Russia's invasion in February 2022, and Trump has so far not managed to broker a peace deal.

The Kremlin's account

According to Putin, Moscow had been ready to restart negotiations with Kyiv after last month's Russian parliamentary elections, but Ukraine attacked Moscow and polling stations, putting the peace process at risk. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov, describing the call, said a massive drone attack on Moscow, other cities and polling stations, as well as on specific individuals involved in organizing the vote, on the main voting day had effectively disrupted an immediate return to negotiations. He said that, as Putin put it, the sides would now consider when talks could resume.

Fuel supplies

Ushakov said Putin and Trump also discussed major economic initiatives, including possible supplies of Russian fuel. Earlier on Friday, Trump said that after the call Russia had agreed to immediately supply diesel to U.S. and global markets to help lower fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections next month. Analysts said, however, that the volumes would likely not bring prices down significantly.

Background

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Russia's war in Ukraine has reached a dangerous stalemate and that Washington will keep working toward a settlement to end the conflict.