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.