The Kremlin dismissed the key arguments behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprising change in stance on the conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urging the U.S. to increase sanctions on Russia to push for negotiations to end the conflict that began in February 2022. Trump’s recent shift in rhetoric favored Ukraine, expressing belief that Kyiv could reclaim all its territory and should take action, especially with Russia facing significant economic challenges. He also voiced support for shooting down Russian drones entering NATO airspace.
It remains uncertain if Trump’s words will lead to a change in U.S. policy, potentially leaving Europe to fulfill more of Ukraine’s needs in terms of weapons and funding. The Kremlin argued that the Russian economy is stable despite some sanctions-related issues, and that the slow but steady progress of Russian forces in Ukraine is part of a deliberate strategy.
Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized Trump’s statements, suggesting they were influenced by Zelenskyy and did not align with Russia’s perspective on the situation. Russian officials plan to provide Washington with accurate information about the state of affairs in Ukraine during talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Trump for being out of touch with reality and predicted another shift in stance. Some Russian nationalists viewed Trump’s statements as an indication of his disengagement from the conflict in Ukraine. The lack of recent Russian progress is attributed to Ukraine’s resilient defense and the nature of drone warfare, as both sides have been worn down by years of conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is seeking to enhance defense cooperation with other nations and secure investments in its domestic arms industry. A joint arms production venture with the U.S. is in the works, following positive signals from Trump. Trump and Zelenskyy had previously discussed a drone production deal, with the U.S. president showing admiration for Ukrainian innovation.