Putin Says Russia Grateful to U.S. for Facilitating Talks With Ukraine

Russian officials expressed gratitude to the United States for its role in facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to a report from @FirstSquawk. The statement attributed to Putin noted appreciation for American involvement in arranging the discussions.

At the same time, it stressed that the underlying issues are solely between Russia and Ukraine and should be resolved by those two parties without external determination.

"We are grateful to the United States for facilitating the talks, but the matter remains exclusively a concern for Russia and Ukraine," the statement said. The same wording was repeated in a second report from the account. The remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale military operation against Ukraine in February 2022.

The United States has provided substantial military and financial support to Ukraine while also engaging in direct contacts with Russian counterparts at various points. No additional details were provided on the timing or location of the specific talks referenced or on any immediate next steps in the negotiations.

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, displacement of populations, and widespread destruction across parts of Ukraine.