The Kremlin described recent discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff as “extremely useful” on Monday. The two met last Friday in St. Petersburg, marking another step in the ongoing effort to revive US-Russia relations and explore solutions to the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the effectiveness of such meetings, citing the creation of a popular communication line between Moscow and Washington. This allows the two sides to exchange positions on various matters and gain first-hand information, although Peskov cautioned that the results should not be expected immediately due to the complexity of the issues involved.
Peskov also denied any discussions regarding a potential meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump. He reiterated that the US is expected to extend sanctions against Russia, which, according to Peskov, are largely automatic. Last Thursday, Trump signed an executive order extending sanctions first imposed during the Biden administration in April 2021 for another year. Peskov noted that Russia has no inflated expectations as it embarks on the long process of normalizing its relations with the US.
