Russia, US maintain contact to promote peaceful resolution in Ukraine
(VOVWORLD) - Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Monday that recent contacts between Russia and the US, both at the level of heads of state and foreign ministers, including a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, demonstrated a shared commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Zakharova said all parties reaffirmed the need to pursue dialogue while addressing the root causes of the conflict, which she described as a key factor for achieving lasting peace.
In a speech to US military leaders in Virginia on September 24, US President Donald Trump reiterated his call for direct talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents and said he believes the conflict can be resolved in the near future.
Russia said it is ready for dialogue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned, however, that Ukraine's delay in negotiations may demonstrate to Western supporters its determination to prolong the conflict, adding that each day without talks makes a settlement more difficult.