Washington: President Vladimir Putin has expressed Russia's readiness to continue direct peace talks with Ukraine during his recent phone call with US President Donald Trump, as revealed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov shared in an NBC News interview that President Trump reached out to President Putin after a crucial meeting in the Oval Office that involved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders. During this call, Putin conveyed Russia's willingness to persist with the negotiations that began in Istanbul, where three rounds have already taken place.

The discussions in Washington, DC, followed a significant summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska on August 15. Lavrov noted that while the summit did not specifically address a future meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, the topic emerged later as an impromptu consideration. Putin emphasized to Trump that any potential high-level meeting, particularly between him and Zelenskyy, should be meticulously prepared.

Lavrov proposed that raising the level of delegations involved in the Istanbul meetings could help address specific issues requiring the attention of Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy. However, Moscow has yet to receive a response from Kyiv regarding its proposal to create three working groups, each focusing on distinct subject areas, during the latest talks in Istanbul.

According to Lavrov, both the Russian and US presidents are committed to establishing peace in Ukraine, contrasting with European officials, whom he accused of opposing such efforts based on their reactions following the Alaska summit. He further emphasized that security guarantees related to the Ukrainian settlement must be reached through consensus.

The peace talks in Istanbul have already resulted in major prisoner swaps and the exchange of draft memoranda outlining the positions of both sides for a potential peace agreement, with meetings held on May 16, June 2, and July 23.