UN expresses readiness to mediate Ukrainian conflict as Trump plans talks with Putin

The United Nations has expressed support for any potential discussions between Russia and the United States, following reports of an upcoming meeting between US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, made the statement on January 10, noting that any dialogue between the two nations would be welcomed once Trump assumes office, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We have seen the media reports from both the US and Russian sides. Certainly, any dialogue between the United States and Russia will be welcomed as soon as [Donald Trump] takes office," Dujarric said, as broadcast on the UN’s online streaming platform.

Responding to questions regarding the possibility of the UN’s involvement in negotiations over the Ukrainian conflict, a key topic for the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin, Dujarric reiterated the UN's commitment to resolving the crisis and expressed readiness to act as a mediator.

The spokesperson also addressed the issue of the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly following the US House of Representatives’ passing of a bill that could impose sanctions on the court. Dujarric emphasized that the UN Secretary-General views the ICC as “a crucial element of the international justice system” and expressed support for the institution, highlighting that the ICC operates independently from the UN Secretariat.

Earlier in the day, Trump revealed that preparations for a meeting with Putin were underway. The President-elect stated that he plans to hold all meetings after his inauguration on January 20, and stressed the importance of resolving the Ukrainian conflict. He further indicated that ending the crisis was a top priority.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Moscow had no specific conditions for talks with Washington. He noted that President Putin has consistently expressed openness to discussions with global leaders, including Trump and current US President Joe Biden. However, no specific details about the upcoming meeting with Trump have been disclosed yet.

In a statement on January 7, Trump expressed confidence that Putin was eager to engage in talks with him regarding Ukraine. The President-elect attributed the ongoing conflict to what he described as the "Biden fiasco" and the incompetence of the current US administration. Trump asserted that his team knows how to address the crisis.

For his part, President Putin stated on December 26 that Russia’s objective is not merely to freeze the conflict in Ukraine, but to bring it to an end.

By Tamilla Hasanova