Russia, US in active talks on Ukraine settlement, says Kremlin aide – Firstpost

Amid tensions between Washington and Moscow after the Hungary summit was cancelled, a senior Kremlin aide said on Sunday that Kiev has been informed about the outcome of the Alaska summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, and Moscow has maintained contacts with Washington on the Ukraine issue.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state-run TASS that Russia is actively engaging with the US on a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis based on consensus reached during the Alaska summit in Anchorage on August 15. Although the summit did not reach any agreement to end the conflict, Ushakov said the framework remains a key reference point.

“We are actively discussing the Ukrainian agreement based on the consensus reached in Anchorage. We believe this is a really good path to achieving a peaceful solution,” Ushakov said during an interview with state TV in Moscow.

“The Anchorage understanding was brought to the attention of the Kyiv side. Kyiv is aware of this,” he said.

Ushakov acknowledged that the proposals were not universally welcomed. “They don’t like it. Many Europeans, but not all, don’t like Anchorage,” he said. “In other words, Anchorage does not favor those who do not want a peaceful solution but want to fight to the last Ukrainian,” the presidential aide stressed.

He also said that the United States has not officially declared the agreements reached in Anchorage invalid. “There were a lot of comments, and naturally, these comments arise as the situation develops, because there are various negotiations, including among Europeans and Ukrainians. There are many signals, some we like, some we don’t like, but the basis of everything is anchorage,” Ushakov said.

Efforts to arrange a follow-up summit between Putin and Trump have so far been unsuccessful. Earlier reports, believed to be leaked to Western media, suggested Trump had agreed to recognize Crimea as part of Russia, with Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbass region controlled by Russian forces.

Later, after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump said Ukraine is capable of reclaiming all lost territories, including Crimea, with the support of the EU.