Kremlin Reacts to Trump's Ukraine Stance, Fears Prolonged Conflict

The Kremlin expressed concern on Tuesday regarding US President Donald Trump's commitment to providing more weapons to Kyiv and his threat of sanctions against Russian trading partners. Moscow believes these actions could embolden Ukraine and potentially hinder the already fragile peace negotiations.

Trump, the previous day, had given Russia a 50-day deadline to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine. He also expressed his frustration with Moscow while outlining a plan with NATO to supply Kyiv with new military aid, funded by the alliance members.

The Republican's actions prompted peace talks to end the conflict, which has been ongoing for four years. However, Russia has rejected calls for a ceasefire and has significantly increased its use of drones and missiles against Ukraine in recent months.

Moscow stated that it required more time to fully respond to Trump's statements, but it suggested that the comments did not appear to be conducive to successful negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Kyiv might interpret the decisions made in Washington, NATO countries, and Brussels as encouragement to continue the war.

Trump also warned that if a deal was not reached, he would impose significant tariffs on Russia's remaining trade partners. This move aims to limit Moscow's ability to fund its military operations. Despite Western hopes that sanctions would cripple the Russian economy, it has shown resilience, fueled by increased state spending on military resources and the redirection of energy exports to countries like China and India.