Kremlin Says Date for New Round of Talks with Ukraine Has Not Been Set

Dmitry Peskov. (Source: Kremlin)

JAKARTA - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday there was no specific date for a new round of talks on the conflict in Ukraine, but Moscow hoped the schedule would be set soon.

"No, there is no specific date. But we still expect it to happen soon," he said, in a press conference in Moscow, launching Anadolu (10/2).

Russia, Ukraine and the United States are known to have held two rounds of trilateral dialogue to end the war that broke out in 2022. The latest dialogue was held last Wednesday and Thursday, after the first dialogue on January 23-24. All of them were held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Peskov further confirmed that Russia and France had recently made contact, adding that high-level dialogue could be held if there was a common will.

"Indeed, contacts have taken place, we can confirm this, which, if desired and necessary, will help us quickly establish a dialogue at the highest level. So far, we have not received any indication of this desire," he said.

Previously, French President Emmanuel Macron on February 3 announced that Paris had rebuilt technical communication channels with Moscow.

Peskov noted that Moscow viewed President Macron's statement on the need to restore dialogue positively.

"We have taken note of Mr. Macron's statement on the need to restore relations with Russia. We are impressed by the statement. We have long said that reducing our relations to zero is illogical, counterproductive, and detrimental to all parties," he explained.

Peskov stressed that Russia always supports the maintenance of dialogue, arguing that it is important to solve complex problems.

"In our opinion, it can contribute to the resolution of the most urgent and most complex problems. These problems will not be solved on their own. And confrontation will not help solve them," Peskov said.

He added that other European countries currently at odds with Russia have not followed Paris' decision to restore contacts with Moscow.