The Kremlin says that the Donbas conflict would never be part of a Russian-U.S. agreement
The Kremlin claims that the conflict in the Donbas cannot be the subject of an agreement between Russia and the United States.
"It is unlikely that the internal Ukrainian conflict may become a negotiating point to any sort of agreement. This information by no means corresponds to reality," the Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov was commenting on the information that the Kremlin was preparing a "big deal" with the new U.S. administration wherein the United States would make certain concessions regarding Ukraine.
The day before, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made no comments that would rule out the weakening or even complete lifting of sanctions against Russia.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken in favor of cooperation with Russia during his election campaign and said he was interested in the leadership qualities of the Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The USA, EU and other Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia because of the annexation of the Crimea and because Russia granted aid to separatists in Eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin denies its involvement in the supply of weapons and personnel while recognizing the presence of Russian "volunteers" in the combat zone.
On February 8, a report revealed that a group of US senators would introduce a law that would complicate Trump’s ability to lift the sanctions against Moscow.