Moscow: The Kremlin addressed recent comments by former US President Donald Trump, who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump, who earlier pledged to quickly end the war, distanced himself from efforts to improve relations with Moscow and publicly criticized Putin in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. He wrote, "What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened in Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire." These remarks came amid some of the most intense drone and missile attacks launched by Russia against Ukraine during the three-year conflict. Russian officials reported intercepting over 100 Ukrainian drones, including a large swarm targeting Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by acknowledging Trump's role in pushing for peace, stating, "It is clear that the Trump administration is making considerable efforts towards a peaceful settlement, and Russia is grateful for the mediation efforts of President Trump personally." However, Peskov emphasized that significant challenges remain before a peace agreement can be reached. He added, "Like the United States, Russia has its national interests, which come first for us and for our president. We continue intense work preparing for the next round of negotiations with the Ukrainian side and maintain contacts with the Americans."
Meanwhile, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov indicated that Trump may lack accurate information on the conflict's current realities. Speaking to state media, Ushakov said, "Trump is not sufficiently informed about what is really happening in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian confrontation," citing the increased frequency of large-scale attacks by Ukraine on civilian areas.
This exchange underscores the complexity of diplomatic efforts surrounding the war as deadly exchanges persist and political rhetoric intensifies.
