Preparatory work on peaceful settlement in Ukraine suggests end of conflict is near, but there are no specifics for now - Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - The preparatory work on a peaceful settlement in Ukraine suggests that the end of the conflict is near, but there are no specifics for now, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"The bulk of preparatory work done on the peace process allows us to say that, indeed, the end is near, but we cannot talk about anything specific in this context just yet," Peskov told journalists, commenting on Putin's statement on the nearing end of the Ukrainian conflict, which he made at a press conference on Saturday.

"The president said that Russia would stay open to contacts, that certain work had been done in the trilateral format, and we would welcome the continuation of mediation efforts by the United States," Peskov said.

Putin is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky somewhere not in Moscow only to put an end to the conflict, but a lot of homework still needs to be done before that happens, Peskov said.

"Speaking at a press conference in the Kremlin, Putin said he would be ready to meet with Zelensky in Moscow for talks at any time, as well as to meet at any other location, but it makes sense to meet at any other location only to fully finalize the process," Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

"In order to finalize it, in order to put an end to it, a lot of homework still needs to be done," he said.

Putin said on May 9 that Zelensky conveyed his desire to meet with the Russian leader through Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

"Mr. Fico spoke about his meeting [with Zelensky], but there was no specific message there. I simply heard again that the Ukrainian side, Mr. Zelensky, is ready to hold a personal meeting," Putin told reporters.

He also recalled the previous lengthy negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement, including the Minsk Agreements.

"We know really well what negotiations themselves are like, I personally went through it during the work on the Minsk Agreements in Minsk. It is possible to talk endlessly, for hours, day and night, but without any point," he said.

"Specialists must work and do everything so that each party understands that the agreements are fully coordinated, and in this case we could meet either to sign them or to be present," Putin said.

Speaking about the possibility of his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Putin said, "It is not the first time we heard about it, we have never refused it, I have never refused it. I am not the one to propose this meeting, but if someone proposes, please, let the one who wants to meet come to Moscow, and we will meet."

"But we can also meet in a third country, only if final agreements on the peace treaty intended for a long historical term are reached. To participate in this event and sign something, but it must be the final point and not talks themselves," he said.