In an interview on Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow shares US President Donald Trump's opinion that Ukraine is hindering the progress of a peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict between the two nations. Peskov agreed with Trump's assessment, saying, "Yes, we can agree with it, it's indeed so." This statement came after Trump's remarks on Wednesday, where he claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a major obstacle in the US-led peace negotiations.
However, this view is not shared by European officials who have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling in negotiations while continuing to attack Ukrainian cities. Despite public disagreements, both Kyiv and Moscow have expressed their desire for a peace deal, but remain far apart on the terms. In an interview with Reuters, Trump stated that he believes Putin is ready to make a deal, while Ukraine is less willing, specifically naming Zelenskyy as the one obstructing progress.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has been a strong supporter of Ukraine along with many European and NATO member nations, pushed back against Trump's comments. Tusk took to social media to state that it is Russia, not Ukraine, who has rejected the peace plan proposed by the US. He also emphasized the need to put pressure on Russia, as their actions have only led to further attacks on Ukrainian cities.
In response to Trump's comments, Putin stressed that both Russia and Ukraine must have security guarantees as part of any potential peace deal. During a ceremony at the Kremlin, Putin stated that security must be universal and equal for all nations, and Russia will continue to pursue their goals until this is achieved.
Trump's position on the matter seems to have shifted from previous statements made by US officials, who have indicated that the American president is becoming increasingly impatient with Putin. Last week, US Senator Lindsey Graham stated that Trump supports tough sanctions against Russia, as Ukraine makes concessions for peace while Putin continues to harm innocent civilians.
The United States also accused Russia on Monday of escalating the conflict in a "dangerous and inexplicable" manner, at a time when the Trump administration is trying to move towards peace negotiations. According to the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in Washington, Russia has been deliberately delaying the peace process in order to prolong the war and achieve their original objectives through military means.
In a recent attack, a Russian drone struck a playground in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the regional military administration. While over a hundred windows were shattered, no one was injured in the blast. Peskov stated that there is currently no set date for US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Moscow for further peace talks.
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