Putin accuses Western leaders of disrupting US-Russia talks
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Putin's remarks come as the United States and Russia work on rebuilding their diplomatic ties and ending the war on Ukraine, which saw opposition from the EU after it was excluded from Moscow-Washington talks.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during a meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB) board, in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 (AP)
Some Western elites are attempting to disrupt the communications between Russia and the United States, stated Moscow's President Vladimir Putin during a Federal Security Services meeting, emphasizing that "every capability must be used to counter these efforts," according to TASS.
"We understand that not everyone welcomes the resumption of Russian-US contacts. Certain Western elites remain committed to maintaining global instability," Putin said, adding that "These forces will attempt to derail or discredit the emerging dialogue."
"We need to take this into account and utilize all available diplomatic and intelligence resources to foil such attempts," he emphasized.
Putin's announcement comes amid efforts by Moscow and Washington to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries and work toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine after 3 years of war.
Russia, US, to hold talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on February 26 that diplomats from Russia and the United States would meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday to address bilateral disputes as part of a broader effort to move toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov stated that the discussions would aim to improve conditions for Russian diplomats in the United States and their American counterparts in Russia, following disruptions in diplomatic relations between the two nations. These disruptions stemmed from disagreements over staffing levels and embassy properties.
"Our high-level diplomats, experts, will meet and consider the systemic problems that have accumulated as a result of the illegal activities of the previous administration to create artificial obstacles for the activities of the Russian embassy, ​​to which we, naturally, reciprocated and also created uncomfortable conditions for the work of the American embassy in Moscow," Lavrov said.
Lavrov's remarks closely followed the meeting between the United States and Russia in Riyadh, where both parties agreed to initiate negotiations regarding the Ukraine war.
Trump to visit Moscow
US President Donald Trump is set to visit Moscow on May 9 to take part in Russia's victory day ceremonies, according to the French magazine Le Point, citing unnamed sources who pointed out that a meeting between Trump and Putin will take place.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, described the talks as a significant step toward resolving issues through dialogue and focusing on peace rather than conflict, emphasizing that if regular communication existed between Russia and the U.S., arranging a presidential meeting would be far less demanding.
The Kremlin emphasized on February 13 that a meeting between Trump and Putin could take weeks or even months of preparation, noting that the meeting's format will be determined through continued discussions between the leaders' aides.
