March 13, 2025 (EIRNS)—U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz made a phone call to Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov yesterday to brief him “on the main outcome of the talks with a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah,” as TASS quoted Ushakov. Further, Ushakov reported, “I can say that I have maintained regular telephone contact with Michael Waltz.”
The two had established phone contact, Ushakov explained, “right after he was appointed as presidential national security advisor.” Waltz “has already said this. I can confirm what he said. A normal exchange of views in a calm atmosphere is underway. I would say that this manner is different from how we communicated with officials from the previous administration led by Biden.”
In yesterday’s phone conversation, Ushakov reported that he had outlined Russia’s position that a short-term ceasefire with Ukraine does nothing but allow Kiev’s forces to rearm and regroup. In today’s interview with Russia-1 TV, Ushakov explained: “Our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement, and that is what we are working toward—a resolution that accounts for our country’s legitimate interests and known concerns. Any steps that merely imitate peace efforts, I believe, are of no use to anyone in this situation.”
Ushakov situated his comments, saying that President Vladimir Putin “can express more specific and meaningful assessments of the proposal for a temporary truce in Ukraine”—which Putin in fact did in a later press conference with Belarus President Lukashenko.
