Kremlin Signals Willingness to Resume US-Brokered Ukraine Talks Next Month
The Kremlin has agreed to resume US-brokered talks on Ukraine next month, according to a statement from Yuri Ushakov, a top aide to President Vladimir Putin. The announcement followed a Wednesday meeting in St Petersburg between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff. Ushakov said that establishing a “security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends” was the main issue Moscow was ready to negotiate on, Interfax reported. The talks, which spanned two days, were described by a US official as “positive and constructive,” though the official noted that important work still remains. Despite the positive tone, expectations remain measured given Russia’s limited willingness so far to engage seriously in negotiations.nnThe discussions also touched on economic cooperation. Ushakov mentioned “large-scale joint economic projects that offer significant prospects for cooperation” between Russia and the United States. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special investment envoy, was present at the talks, and the Kremlin confirmed that major joint economic projects were discussed, including some that are close to being realized. This suggests that Moscow may be seeking to link peace efforts with broader economic incentives. However, no details were provided on specific projects or timelines.nnOn the battlefield, tensions persist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that speed limits on Starlink terminals used by Ukraine’s military to fly drones into Russian-controlled areas and to operate interceptors targeting long-range drones remained active on Tuesday, with no changes reported the following day. This indicates that operational constraints on Ukraine’s military capabilities continue, even as diplomatic efforts proceed. The war, now more than 4½ years old, has seen little progress in US-led peace efforts, with the Trump administration’s attempts since early last year yielding no significant breakthroughs.nnLooking ahead, a possible meeting between Trump, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has been floated, though no concrete plans have been announced. Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on the terms of any potential peace deal, and Trump has recently intensified pressure on Ukraine to strike some kind of agreement. The resumption of talks next month will be a critical test of whether Moscow is genuinely prepared to engage in serious negotiations. As one official noted, the two
Shimanta Das 
