Moscow: The Kremlin has forcefully rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent assertions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, calling them a misinformed perspective shaped under the influence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump’s remarks, made on Tuesday during a public address, suggested that Kyiv could reclaim all territories currently held by Russian forces, citing alleged economic troubles in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed these claims, emphasizing that Russia’s economy remains relatively stable despite sanctions, and that the slow yet steady advances of Russian troops on Ukrainian soil are part of a calculated strategy. “President Trump’s statements were made after communicating with Zelenskyy and reflect a vision sharply contrasting our understanding of the battlefield dynamics,” Peskov said. He stressed that it is Ukraine, rather than Russia, that faces strategic challenges on the front lines.
The comments drew ridicule from prominent Russian nationalists, who portrayed Trump’s sudden advocacy for Ukraine as a sign of disengagement. Konstantin Malofeyev, an influential ultra-nationalist figure, suggested that the U.S. is effectively shifting responsibility to Europe while offering minimal direct support to Kyiv. Margarita Simonyan, chief of Russia’s state media network RT, sarcastically compared Trump to a fortune-teller offering false hope to Ukraine, while former President Dmitry Medvedev described the former U.S. president as inhabiting “an alternate reality” prone to abrupt reversals in position.
In response to the growing controversy, Peskov confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to provide what Moscow considers “real information” about the situation in Ukraine. Analysts note that the lack of any major Russian breakthrough in recent months is attributable to Ukraine’s resilient defense, fortified positions, and the strategic implications of drone warfare, which have left both sides locked in a prolonged, exhausting conflict.
The exchange underscores the ongoing divergence of narratives between Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington, highlighting the fragile balance of perception, rhetoric, and geopolitical maneuvering as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.