Russia "values the position of the United States, as it is the only leading Western country that has taken the initiative to seek a solution to the conflict in Ukraine," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart.
However, Moscow's chief diplomat does not have the same stance on some EU countries.
He stressed that while France and Germany, which are strongly aligned with Kiev, would never be accepted by Russia as mediators, Belarus and Turkey would be welcome.
Lavrov did not comment on the meeting between representatives of Moscow and Washington, which some media reported could take place in Abu Dhabi.
"We prefer to engage in diplomacy rather than move the language in an attempt to weaken peace initiatives," he declared.
This development comes as the Financial Times reports that US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday to hold talks with Ukraine's military intelligence chief and a Russian delegation, with the aim of reaching a peace deal to end the ongoing war.
According to the report, which cited a U.S. official and two people familiar with the meeting, Driscoll and the Russian delegation began discussions Monday evening, with talks expected to continue Tuesday. Driscoll is expected to meet with Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Directorate of Military Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (GUR).
The meetings in Abu Dhabi follow progress made during talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva over the weekend.