Russia has sought to downplay tensions with the United States after President Donald Trump expressed anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin over his remarks regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite President Trump’s sharp criticism, the Kremlin has insisted that diplomatic engagements between Moscow and Washington remain ongoing.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to working with the United States. “We continue working with the US side, first of all, on building our relations,” Peskov stated. However, he clarified that no immediate talks were scheduled between Putin and President Trump, though he did not rule out the possibility of a conversation if deemed necessary.
President Trump’s comments came during an interview with NBC News, where he expressed his frustration with Putin’s recent suggestions regarding Ukraine’s leadership. The Russian president had floated the idea of an interim government in Ukraine under United Nations oversight—an idea that President Trump dismissed as unhelpful to resolving the ongoing war.
“You could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when… Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility, because that’s not going in the right location,” President Trump remarked. He further warned that he would impose a 50% tariff on nations purchasing Russian oil should Putin refuse to agree to a ceasefire.
The shift in President Trump’s tone is notable, as he has frequently criticized Zelensky while largely avoiding direct condemnation of Putin. His newfound assertiveness appears to stem from Moscow’s suggestion that Ukraine’s leadership could be altered as part of a peace deal—a move President Trump believes would significantly delay any resolution to the conflict.
Russian state media reacted to President Trump’s remarks with skepticism. The pro-Kremlin newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets criticized the US president for not doing enough to prevent Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The paper suggested that “all agreements on the level of President Trump are only worth a few pennies on market day,” but noted that Moscow remains open to dialogue.
While the Kremlin continues to downplay President Trump’s statements, the broader implications of his evolving stance remain uncertain. With US-Russia relations at a critical juncture, it remains to be seen whether diplomatic efforts can bridge the growing divides between the two nations.
