The Kremlin has said it has “taken into account” US President Donald Trump’s statement that he is shortening the timeframe for Russian Federation to conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine.
“We took into account yesterday’s statement by President Trump,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on 29 July, adding that the special military operation was continuing.
“We remain committed to the peace process to resolve the conflict over Ukraine and ensure our interests during this settlement,” Peskov said.
He also declined to comment on Trump’s statement that he was “no longer interested in talking” with Putin. And speaking about the possibility of a meeting between Trump and Putin, the Kremlin spokesman said that the issue “as did not stand in the substantive plan, so does not stand.”
On 28 July, Trump said he was” very disappointed” with Putin and” would” shorten” his previously announced 50-day deadline by which the Russian leader was expected to agree to peace talks because, in his view,” he already knows the answer” to his proposals and what will happen. Trump said he was setting a new deadline of about “10 to 12 days from today (28 July – ed.)”.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said afterwards that such words of the US president bring him closer to war with Russia.
Trump gave Putin 50 days on 14 July, harshly criticising Russia and Putin personally for his unwillingness to achieve peace. After that deadline, which expires on 3 September, Trump has said he is ready to impose sanctions, primarily high duties on Russia itself and those countries that buy energy from it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that, in particular, without the support of China, which buys oil from Russia, Putin “couldn’t sustain this war.”
Trump also announced a willingness to sell weapons to USA allies for Ukraine’s needs. Several countries, including Germany, have indicated their willingness to participate in the scheme.
Russia then reacted with restraint to Trump’s statements. Moscow’s official position on them has not changed. Russian representatives say they are interested in peace, but only on certain conditions – which Kiev considers tantamount to capitulation. At issue, in particular, is Ukraine’s relinquishment of some territories – even those that Moscow does not control now or has never controlled at all.
Late last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that President Trump was “losing patience” with Russia’s behaviour in the conflict with Ukraine and was “losing the will to continue waiting” for any steps from Moscow that could lead to the end of the war.