Updated 08.03 | Published 07.39
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HELSCRAKE President Donald Trump steps out of a Tesla outside the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Pool by AP/TT
Ukraine has said yes – now it is up to Russia, says US President Donald Trump.
After yesterday’s meeting in Saudi Arabia, a ceasefire in Ukraine seems ever closer. But from Russia comes ambiguous signals.
Ukraine has approved the US proposal for a ceasefire and Washington has resumed its military support and sharing of intelligence with Ukraine.
The next step is to get the Russian side to say yes.
– Now we have to go to Russia and hopefully president (Vladimir) Putin will accept it as well. Then we can get this started, Trump said during a press conference in the White House late Tuesday.
LAVROV: No one is talking to us
At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with American bloggers that Russia will not accept “a peace that puts life at stake,” reports state -controlled Russian Ria. He also repeated that Moscow “under no circumstances” will accept peacekeeping forces that include soldiers from NATO countries.
– No one talks to us. They constantly say that they do not talk about Ukraine but Ukraine, but they do everything against Russia without Russia, Lavrov said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zacharova says Russia makes her own decisions.
– Russia’s position is not formed abroad due to any agreements between other parties.
Intelligence managers in conversation
According to President Trump, US representatives will meet a Russian delegation already on Wednesday – and he himself will “probably” talk to Putin. Earlier, US envoy Steven Witkoff has been reported to go to Moscow this week, but unclear exactly when.
On Wednesday morning, state Russian media reports that Russian intelligence chief Sergei Narykin has talked on the phone with CIA chief John Ratcliffe.
According to RIA news agency, the two must have agreed to “maintain regular contact” to ensure international stability and security.