Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can only proceed through an expert-level process.

“Expert-level negotiations are what lay the groundwork for high-level contacts, and such contacts are not an end in themselves, since they will not resolve this complex and difficult issue,” Peskov said.

He added that all statements by US President Donald Trump are subject to careful scrutiny in Moscow. “Of course, we carefully analyze every statement made by President Trump,” he noted.

Peskov also confirmed that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled, claiming that Kyiv has been slow to respond to the previously submitted draft memorandum and to the proposal for establishing three working groups. (Agencies)