Contacts with US intensifying: Kremlin

The Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday that Russian officials have been in contact with members of US President Donald Trump's administration but did not say whether the discussions focused on ending its military operation in Ukraine.

"There are indeed contacts between certain agencies, and they have intensified recently," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "I can't share any further details."

Peskov also dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recently expressed willingness to negotiate peace directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Readiness needs to be based on something. It can't be based on a legal ban preventing Zelensky from holding such talks," Peskov said, referring to the Ukrainian leader's announcement in 2022 that he would not hold peace talks with Moscow while Putin was president.