Is Ukraine Blocking Peace? Kremlin Agrees with Trump's Controversial Claim

Moscow's Stance on Peace Negotiations

Moscow: A Kremlin representative has expressed agreement with US President Donald Trump's assertion that Ukraine is hindering a peace agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly four years since Russia's invasion.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated, "Yes, we can agree with it; it’s indeed so." This remark followed Trump's comments, where he indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a barrier to US-led peace negotiations.

This perspective contrasts sharply with that of European officials, who have consistently accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling talks while his military intensifies its offensive in Ukraine, bombarding cities relentlessly.

Publicly, Kyiv and Moscow seem to be significantly apart regarding the conditions for a peace settlement.

Trump remarked in an interview with Reuters, "I think he’s ready to make a deal," referring to Putin, while suggesting that Ukraine is less inclined to negotiate, specifically naming Zelenskyy as a hindrance.

In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has been a strong supporter of Ukraine alongside many European and NATO allies, countered Trump's claims.

Tusk tweeted, "It is Russia who rejected the peace plan prepared by the US, not Zelenskyy. The only Russian response was further missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Therefore, the only solution is to increase pressure on Russia. And you all know it."

Putin emphasized on Thursday that both Moscow and Ukraine require security guarantees as part of any potential peace agreement.

He stated, "We must proceed from the premise that security must be truly universal, and therefore equal and indivisible, and it cannot be ensured for some at the expense of the security of others," during a meeting with foreign ambassadors in the Kremlin.

Putin further added, "In the absence of it, Russia will continue to consistently pursue the goals it has set."

Trump's comments seem to diverge from the recent sentiments expressed by US officials, who indicated that the American president is losing patience with Putin.

US Senator Lindsey Graham remarked last week that Trump supports a stringent sanctions package aimed at crippling Russia economically.

Graham noted, "This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent."

Additionally, the United States accused Russia on Monday of a "dangerous and inexplicable escalation" of its military actions while the Trump administration seeks to promote peace negotiations.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported late Wednesday that "the Kremlin has been delaying the peace process for months to prolong the war and achieve Russia's original military objectives through force."

In a recent incident, a Russian drone targeted a playground in Lviv, damaging over a hundred windows, although no injuries were reported, according to regional military administration head Maksym Kozytskyi.

Peskov also mentioned that no date has been set for US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff's next visit to Moscow for further discussions on peace.