The decision to convene a summit in Budapest on the war in Ukraine was made jointly by Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced at a press briefing.

“It was a common desire,” Peskov said when asked who first proposed the idea.

“The peace process for Ukraine has reached a deadlock, and the situation requires the involvement of the leaders of Russia and the United States — but such engagement must be carefully prepared,” he noted. “Indeed, the current pause demands intervention at the highest level, yet that intervention must be thoroughly organized.”

Addressing reports that Moscow had sent a “secret letter” to Washington outlining its conditions for resolving the conflict, Peskov dismissed the speculation. “Russia has communicated its position repeatedly,” he said. “The elements of our stance are well known. They have been clearly articulated by our president and remain unchanged.”

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed that preparations for a summit between Presidents Putin and Trump were ongoing, according to the state news agency RIA. However, he added that there is currently no agreement on a preparatory meeting between U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.