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MOSCOW, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to hold a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, pending confirmation of Washington's readiness.

Trump expressed his eagerness to meet Putin promptly to help end the conflict with Ukraine and to collaborate on reducing nuclear weapons, a goal which aligns with Putin's objectives as per the Kremlin's statement.

When asked about the possibility of a phone call between Putin and Trump over the weekend, Peskov remarked, "Putin is ready. We are waiting for signals from Washington. Everyone is ready. It is difficult to predict. Once there are developments, we will keep you informed."

Trump, speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, mentioned his interest in nuclear disarmament, hinting at potential support from Russia and China for this initiative.

Peskov emphasized Putin's intention to engage in nuclear disarmament talks promptly, while underscoring the need for broader discussions covering other nations' nuclear capabilities, including those of France and Britain.

Regarding the New START treaty, due to expire in 2026, Peskov noted its significance as the main remaining agreement regulating strategic nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Russia.

In response to Trump's remarks on oil prices and their impact on the Ukraine conflict, Peskov clarified that the conflict stemmed from national security threats to Russia and the refusal of American and European powers to consider Russia's concerns, dismissing any connection to oil prices.

Peskov clarified that by "well-known territories," he was referring to parts of eastern Ukraine captured by Russia, a move deemed illegal by most United Nations member states.

Peskov disputed Trump's claim about Ukrainian President Zelenskiy's readiness for a peace agreement, highlighting Zelenskiy's decree from 2022 that rejected negotiations with Putin, citing the need for diplomatic engagement to reach a resolution.

Zelenskiy recently stated the necessity of deploying at least 200,000 European peacekeepers to prevent further Russian aggression following a potential ceasefire agreement.