The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia and the US are actively negotiating possible peace plans for Ukraine and at the same time working to repair bilateral ties. This follows after former US President Donald Trump’s recent comments complaining about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he was “pissed off” at Putin following the Russian president’s questioning of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s credibility. Trump also suggested that he would impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on Russian oil buyers.
Later, addressing reporters, Trump conceded he was disappointed in Putin but added, “I think we are making progress, step by step.”
Kremlin’s Response to Trump’s Criticism
Responding to Trump‘s comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow remains in talks with Washington and Putin is willing to continue communication with Trump.
“We are still engaged with the American side, initially to develop our bilateral relations, which were negatively affected during the last (US) administration,” Peskov informed Reuters.
He also said that both countries are in talks over a Ukrainian peace agreement but went on to say, “This work is under way, but so far there are no details that we could or should inform you about. This is a time-consuming process, most likely because of its complexity.”
As reported by Peskov, a meeting between Trump and Putin on short notice can be arranged if needed but no meeting is planned for this week.
Trump’s Attempt to Make Peace in Ukraine
Trump has repeatedly expressed that he wishes to be known as a peacemaker and has threatened that the war in Ukraine could lead to a larger world war between the US and Russia. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who met with Trump in Florida over the weekend, said that they talked about imposing a deadline to create a ceasefire.
“I left with an impression that clearly he’s the only one who can negotiate a peace, a ceasefire, because he’s the only one that Putin is scared of and in that sense, respects,” Stubb said in an interview with Sky News.
Trump’s Threat of Secondary Tariffs on Russian Oil
As part of his increasing anger, Trump threatened drastic economic penalties for countries that buy Russian oil. “If Russia and I can’t make a deal on ending the killing in Ukraine, and if I believe it was Russia’s fault … I am going to impose secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said.
He went on to clarify, “That would be, that if you purchase oil from Russia, you cannot do business in the United States. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
Though oil prices remained steady after Trump’s declaration, global traders are examining the impact that the proposed tariffs could have on the market. Beijing and New Delhi, which collectively buy around 80% of Russian crude exports, have played down the risk. Beijing reaffirmed that its energy cooperation with Russia is not subject to influence from third parties, while New Delhi refused to comment.
Russia and US Discuss Rare Earth Minerals
In the midst of Trump’s push for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, talks of cooperation on rare earth minerals have emerged.
Russian officials confirmed that negotiations between Moscow and Washington on collaborative rare earth metal projects have already commenced. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, stated that US firms have shown interest in possible projects in Russia.
“There are no specifics here yet, but the interest is evident. The interest is mutual because we’re talking about mutually beneficial projects,” Peskov stated.
With diplomatic discussions ongoing and Trump’s unpredictable stance, the geopolitical landscape surrounding Ukraine remains fluid. However, the Kremlin appears determined to maintain communication channels with Washington while working on potential settlement strategies.