The Kremlin has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments expressing anger and frustration toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump’s remarks were made in reference to Putin’s position on placing Ukraine under a “temporary administration” and removing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from office as the two countries work toward a peace agreement.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed these comments, stating that some of Trump’s words were paraphrased, rather than direct quotes, and acknowledged that “several different statements” had been made.
Peskov emphasized that Moscow continues to engage with Washington in efforts to rebuild bilateral relations and work toward peace in Ukraine.
“We are still working with the American side, particularly on restoring our bilateral relations, which were significantly damaged under the previous administration,” Peskov told reporters during a regular conference call. “We are also addressing some proposals related to the Ukrainian situation. The work is ongoing, but there are no specifics to share at the moment.”
When asked about the possibility of a phone call between the two leaders this week, Peskov said it is not currently on President Putin’s schedule but could be arranged quickly “if necessary.”