MOSCOW, November 13 (HS/RIA Novosti) - If the Europeans have someone authorized to conduct a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and have a desire, then Russia is ready for it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

On Thursday, US special envoy Jared Kushner said that the next round of negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement would be expanded at the expense of EU representatives.

If the Europeans really have someone who is at least authorized to talk, if the Europeans really have a desire, then, of course, we will be ready to talk with them, Peskov told reporters.

When asked to comment on reports that French President Emmanuel Macron can allegedly represent Europe in negotiations with Russia, the spokesman said that Moscow is not aware of this, adding that completely different candidates are being named and reports appeared every hour.

Putin held a telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere on October 27. The call was initiated by Helsinki and Oslo. Commenting on the contact, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that there is currently no talk of Stoere and Stubb serving as negotiators representing all of Europe. Peskov later said that Europe is not yet participating in negotiations on Ukraine, but the dialogue with certain European countries is positive.

Late last month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told RIA Novosti that Russia does not consider the identity of Europe’s negotiator to be important, what matters is their negotiating position.

In an interview with Politico released on Thursday, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal endorsed European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as possible EU representatives in Ukraine negotiations with Russia.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar