Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that President Vladimir Putin is ready to engage in talks with US President Donald Trump, but is waiting for signals from Washington.

Both Putin and the newly inaugurated American president have expressed willingness to meet to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, Peskov emphasized that Putin is awaiting a response from the United States before proceeding with any discussions.

While Trump has warned Russia of tougher sanctions unless it ends the conflict, Peskov declined to provide further details on the potential meeting, commenting that predicting the outcome is "like reading coffee grounds."

The Kremlin also dismissed Trump's recent claim that the conflict could be resolved by reducing the price Russia receives for its oil. Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, suggested that asking Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices could prompt an end to the war. Peskov firmly rejected this notion, stating, “This conflict does not depend on oil prices.”

Instead, Peskov pointed out that the conflict stems from “threats to Russia’s national security,” the protection of Russians living in Ukraine, and the unwillingness of the US and Europe to address Russia’s concerns.

Channelstv