Russia indicates talks with U.S. over Ukraine are intensifying

US President Trump has repeatedly promised to clinch a deal between Putin and Zelensky

- Thomas Grove

The Kremlin said contacts between the U.S. and Russia had taken place and recently intensified, the first time Moscow has indicated the two countries are discussing a potential plan to end fighting in Ukraine.

"There is indeed contact between certain government agencies and they have intensified recently," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in response to a question about Ukraine negotiations.

President Trump has repeatedly promised to clinch a deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the negotiating table. Trump said last week that his administration has already had serious discussions with Russia about the conflict, but has provided little detail.

Peskov had previously shrugged off questions about the U.S. initiative, but his comments Wednesday represented the first time he acknowledged that contacts at some level were occurring.