Russia will be ready for talks with Ukraine after State Duma elections — media

U.S. presidential special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner stated that the Russian side will be ready for talks on the conflict in Ukraine after the State Duma elections on September 20.

This was reported to journalists at the Élysée Palace, Le Figaro reports.

“The Americans informed us of a new surge in Russia's readiness for talks after the Duma elections and that in this context we need to prepare for a new start to the negotiations,” the press service of the French president said. Le Figaro notes that the U.S. negotiators reported this during a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Representatives of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom were also present at these talks.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with the leadership of Russia and Ukraine on September 5 and 6. First they arrived in Moscow, and the following day in Kyiv. Mr. Witkoff noted that he had heard “new ideas” on the Ukrainian conflict from the Russian side. The American negotiators announced their intention to resume the trilateral format of negotiations.