Russia, US have yet to discuss meeting between two presidents

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia and the United States have not yet discussed a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, and the two leaders have not had any initial contact about whether to meet.

In an interview with the US television channel CNN, Mr. Peskov made it clear that Russia is currently only having positive contacts with department-level staff in President Trump's administration. However, he did not disclose details about these contacts.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the State Duma (Lower House of Representatives) of Russia, Leonid Slutsky, was quoted by Russia's state news agency RIA as saying that preparations for the meeting between the two Russian and US leaders are at an "advanced stage" and the meeting could take place in February or March.

Previously, both President Trump and President Putin expressed their desire to have a direct meeting with the other to discuss a solution to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Mr. Trump even said that the US had very constructive consultations with both Russia and Ukraine on this issue and expressed hope that the parties could reach an agreement beyond expectations.

In another development, the US Justice Department has begun disbanding the agency that enforced sanctions against oligarchs close to the Kremlin.

The agency, called the "KleptoCapture Task Force", was created after the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.

According to a memo issued by new Attorney General Pam Bondi on February 5, US time, KleptoCapture will cease operations as part of the change in the Trump administration.

Resources spent on enforcing sanctions and seizing assets of Russian oligarchs will be transferred to the department fighting drug cartels and international crime, while personnel will return to their previous positions.