President Trump on Wednesday threatened to hit Russia with massive tariffs and sanctions unless it negotiates an end to its war in Ukraine. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s comments on Thursday.
Ukraine says its hopes are central to a peace deal and that the deal must secure terms favorable to Kiev.
“President Putin is trying to promote the idea of negotiations with the United States. But he wants to come to terms with Europe’s fate without Europe. And he wants to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine,” Ukrainian Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said in a statement Friday.
In the interview, Putin called Trump “smart” and “pragmatic” and said, “I don’t expect him to make decisions that will harm the American economy.”
“I have always maintained a business-like, pragmatic and even trusting relationship with the current president,” Putin said, according to the Moscow Times. “And I cannot help but agree that if his victory had not been stolen in 2020, the Ukraine crisis may not have occurred in 2022,” he added, referring to the full-scale invasion he ordered.
Soon after taking office, the U.S. president repeatedly boasted how quickly he would end Russia’s all-out assault. Since taking office on Monday, Trump has taken a hard line with the Kremlin, telling reporters that Putin is “destroying Russia” and calling for a deal to be reached as quickly as possible.
Veronika Melkozerova contributed to this report.
