Kremlin: If Trump wants to talk, Putin is ready to listen; Russian leader said to be open to the idea of direct talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to the idea of direct, personal talks with incoming President Donald Trump, though no talks have been formally scheduled, the Kremlin said Friday.

Mr. Trump, who will be sworn in Jan. 20, told reporters before a meeting with Republican governors at his Florida Mar-a-Lago residence Thursday evening that the Russian president had already reached out with an offer for direct talks.

President Biden is not known to have spoken to Mr. Putin since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.

Mr. Putin “wants to meet, and we are setting it up,” Mr. Trump said, offering no details on when such a meeting would take place.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was more circumspect, telling reporters at a briefing in Moscow that Mr. Putin would welcome a meeting but that no request from the U.S. side had been received.

“There are still no specifics,” Mr. Peskov said, according to the official Tass news agency. “We proceed from the mutual readiness for such meetings.”

The Kremlin spokesman added that “no conditions are required” for the presidential-level negotiations. “What is required is mutual desire and political will to solve problems through dialogue. … Apparently, there will be some movements in this direction after Trump enters the [White House].”

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 9, 2025

Excerpts:
Russian elites and high-ranking security officials are reportedly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to wage a full-scale war in Ukraine with half measures and are increasingly concerned with Putin's timeline to end the war.

Sources in the Russian presidential administration, State Duma, and wider Russian federal government and regional governments told Russian opposition media outlet Meduza that Russian elites are increasingly “disappointed” and “tired” of waiting for the war to end and are growing increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of Western sanctions on Russia's economy

...
High-ranking Russian security officials appear to be assessing that Russia needs to intensify its war in Ukraine rather than seek an exit via negotiations. Meduza’s report suggests that Russian security and military officials may recognize that the Russian military is not accomplishing significant territorial gains proportionate to the manpower and materiel losses they are incurring in Ukraine. The Russian military command has, thus far, tolerated taking exorbitant personnel losses in exchange for tactically but not operationally significant advances, and Putin's theory of victory is predicated on accepting such losses so long as Russian forces continue to grind forward in Ukraine.

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Meduza’s report indicates that Russia's security elite - like Putin himself - is uninterested in a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the war in the near future. Several sources told Meduza that Russian elites were concerned about Putin's ability to extract his territorial demands - the formal recognition of Russian control over the entirety of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts, including the parts Russia currently does not occupy - in possible future negotiations and are focused on creating an “image of victory” in post-war Russia.

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This focus on Russian victory in tandem with the elites’ reported desire to intensify the war further indicates that Russian elites support Putin's desire to negotiate only on terms dictated by Russia and to achieve a significant victory to justify the war to Russian society. Putin and other senior Kremlin officials have repeatedly indicated that Russia is unwilling to engage in good-faith negotiations or participate in a meaningful peace negotiation except on terms that amount to Ukraine's full capitulation, and the Russian elite will most likely continue to support Putin's demands over engaging in meaningful negotiations.

Well, President Trump’s earlier claim to end the war in a day, not happening. He cancelled Kellog’s trip due to the realities on the battlefield.

Seems President Trump was a victim of senile Joe’s Ukie narrative, Ukies winning, Russia out of ammo, Vlad has cancer, economy collapsing, using washing machine chips, etc, etc.

President Trump no doubt is discovering the real story, and with Vlad’s gains on the battlefield, he will no doubt have to pause, ditch his 80 year old Kellog, and find someone actually qualified and skilled in negotiations….perhaps himself.

Seems President Trump was a victim of senile Joe’s Ukie narrative, Ukies winning, Russia out of ammo, Vlad has cancer, economy collapsing, using washing machine chips, etc, etc.

Yes, your assessment of the military situation and appreciation of all the geopolitical implications is far superior to President Trump's. President Trump's security briefings pale in comparison with your in-depth Internet researches.

Is there anything you don't know?

Regards,

Well, facts are facts. The reality is President Trump ( I support him) said he would stop the war in one day, not. Facts of the current battlefield and President Putin’s strong position clearly show it was not possible.

Fact: President Trump cancelled General Kellog’s visit to Ukraine last week . Some news sources stated he now is waiting 100 days to assess the situation and to find qualified negotiators ( instead of an 80 year old General Kellog).

A wise move. Perhaps he will make an historic visit and he himself meet with President Putin which will also be wise. Both are strong leaders and put their countries first. The outcome will be interesting, and as Zelensky has stated he realizes loss of territory is likely, an agreement is likely…..but the war cheerleaders aren’t going to like the outcome.

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