Rosenberg: Russia agrees to Ukraine talks but sees little to discuss
BBC News reports on recent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. After two days of talks in Norway and Russia, the prospect of a trilateral meeting between leaders remains uncertain.
Steve Rosenberg, Russia Editor, highlights the following points:
- Norway's Prime Minister described Tuesday's talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, and European representatives as "good and constructive."
- The initial hope was to arrange a trilateral meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin, Zelensky, and Trump, but Putin has shown little interest in sharing a table with Zelensky, unless it's in Moscow.
- The Kremlin suggests they may resume trilateral talks next month in Abu Dhabi, but only at a technical level.
- Witkoff acknowledged that "there is still important work to do" but maintained that President Trump remains committed to ending the war.
- Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin's foreign policy aide, expressed skepticism about the Oslo discussions, stating that there wasn't much useful discussed.
- Despite recent US-Russia relations improvements, including Trump's sanctions pause and purchases of Russian diesel, Putin doesn't feel pressured to end the war.
- A trilateral meeting between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump might not be immediate, but a potential meeting with Xi Jinping in China is possible.