Russia says it assumes Trump, despite shift in tone, is still committed to seek peace in Ukraine
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US President Donald Trump said on Sept 24 he believed that Kyiv could recapture all of its land that had been taken by Russia.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – The Kremlin said on Sept 25 that it assumed US President Donald Trump was still committed to work towards achieving peace in Ukraine, after the US leader abruptly shifted his rhetoric in Kyiv’s favour earlier this week.
Mr Trump said on Sept 24 after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he believed that Kyiv could recapture all of its land that had been taken by Russia – which controls around one-fifth of the country
US Vice-President J.D. Vance, told reporters on Sept 24 that Mr Trump was growing “incredibly impatient” with Russia because they were not “putting enough on the table to end the war”.
“If the Russians refuse to negotiate in good faith, I think it’s going to be very, very bad for their country. That’s what the President made clear. It’s not a shift in position. It’s an acknowledgement of the reality on the ground,” Mr Vance said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked to comment on Mr Vance’s remark and if Russia viewed it as contradicting Washington’s stated desire to help end the war, said: “No, it does not. In fact, we see different rhetoric coming out of Washington. For now, we assume that Washington retains the political will, and President Trump retains the political will, to continue efforts toward a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
“We support these efforts, and Russia remains open to entering into peace talks.”
Some Russian nationalists have suggested Mr Trump’s remarks indicated he would distance himself from efforts to put an end to the war, now more than half way through its fourth year.
The Kremlin previously said it believed Mr Trump’s rhetoric was influenced by the fact he had just met Mr Zelensky.
It was not immediately clear whether Mr Trump would back up his words with a shift in US actions.
Some analysts and European officials told Reuters said they believed his words were a signal to Europe that it was time for the continent’s leaders to step up to the plate and do more to meet Kyiv’s needs for weapons and financing. REUTERS
