Peskov describes Putin-Trump meeting as ‘necessary’

The Kremlin believes that a meeting between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump is necessary, but it should be well-prepared, Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

“Everyone is obviously talking about such a meeting. In many respects, we believe it is, of course, necessary. It needs to be properly prepared, which requires efforts at various expert levels. This involves ongoing communications between Moscow and Washington, which have already begun and are continuing. There are no further details about this matter at the moment,” Peskov noted in response to a question about whether Putin might meet Trump in Saudi Arabia in May.

The Kremlin spokesperson also stated that he is not familiar with the contents of the agreement between Kyiv and Washington regarding mineral resources and, therefore, cannot comment on it.

He added that Russia is ready for mutually beneficial relations with any country, including Germany, where the government is changing.

“And we are ready to develop these relations as deeply and broadly as those countries are willing,” Peskov said.

Earlier, the U.S. president announced that he would discuss a possible meeting with Putin during his visit to Saudi Arabia in mid-May.

To remind, the signing of an agreement between Ukraine and the United States regarding mineral resources became known on May 1. The Verkhovna Rada is expected to vote on the document on May 8. According to Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister, the agreement stipulates that Kyiv will allocate 50% of all revenues from new licenses and new leases for mineral extraction in the territories to a joint investment fund. The U.S. and Ukraine will have equal votes in the management of the fund. The agreement does not envisage Ukraine’s direct debt obligations to the United States, nor does it contain any security guarantees from Washington.