Peskov: Work of trilateral Russia-U.S.-Ukraine group on pause

MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - The negotiations between Moscow and Kiev mediated by Washington have been paused, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"The trilateral group is on pause," Peskov told the Izvestia newspaper.

At the same time, the bilateral Russia-U.S. group on economic issues continues working, he said.

Russia will continue contacts with Ukraine regarding exchanges of prisoners and the bodies of dead soldiers, Peskov said.

"This work will certainly continue," he told Izvestia.

In turn, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that the principles for the Ukraine conflict settlement earlier set out by Russian President Vladimir Putin are fundamental and have been fully emphasized by Russia in contacts with the countries concerned.

"This stance of ours is fundamental and has been fully emphasized by the Russian side in its dialogue with all of the states concerned," Galuzin told Izvestia.

There is currently no specific date and venue for a new meeting between Russia, the United States and Ukraine. Its agenda has not been fully prepared either, he said.

In the summer of 2024, Putin formulated fundamental principles for the Ukraine crisis settlement, which include safeguarding the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking residents, recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, the Kherson region and the Zaporozhye region as part of Russia, and the lifting of Western sanctions.