Photo combination created on November 7, 2024, showing US President Donald Trump (left) on October 15 in Cumming, United States, and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) in Kazan, Russia on October 24, 2024 ( AFP / Elijah Nouvelage)
The Kremlin said Thursday it was ready for a dialogue “with mutual respect” with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened new sanctions if Russia does not reach an agreement with Ukraine to end the conflict.
Since his re-election, the Western world, Russia and Ukraine have been waiting to see what position the unpredictable American leader will adopt, particularly on crucial military aid for Ukraine, and what concessions he will demand from Moscow and kyiv, as much as he boasts of having a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After several days of silence, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, said Thursday that he saw “nothing particularly new” in the billionaire's first comments on the subject.
Donald Trump, already in the White House from 2017 to 2021, “was the American president who most used these sanctions methods,” he added.
“We remain ready for dialogue, for dialogue on an equal footing and with mutual respect,” Mr. Peskov nevertheless assured.
“During his first presidency, there was such a dialogue between Putin and him,” said the Russian spokesperson, according to whom the Kremlin is still waiting for “signals” in this direction from the White House.
Donald Trump has repeatedly said he is preparing to speak to the Russian president, but without giving a date.
Vladimir Putin also said he was ready for an interview or discussion with his American counterpart.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and his American counterpart Donald Trump before a meeting in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018 (AFP / Brendan Smialowski)
Donald Trump, however, on Wednesday threatened Russia with new sanctions if it does not conclude an agreement with Ukraine “now”, to end the conflict launched by Moscow almost three years ago.
“If we do not reach an agreement, quickly, I will have no choice but to increase taxes, tariffs and sanctions on anything that can be sold by Russia to the United States, as well as in the different countries that will join in,” insisted the American president.
– Blurred intentions –
And on Monday, the day of his inauguration, Donald Trump called on Vladimir Putin to find a peace “agreement”, because according to him the Russian president “is destroying Russia by not finding a solution” to the conflict.
-During his campaign, Donald Trump promised to end the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours”, without ever explaining how.
He appointed former General Keith Kellogg, who called on kyiv for several concessions, as envoy in charge of the file.
Mr. Trump's return to power is seen as a potential turning point in the conflict, although his intentions remain unclear.
Matryoshkas, traditional Russian nesting dolls, display portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, in a souvenir store in Moscow, January 20, 2025 (AFP / Alexander NEMENOV)
The United States is Ukraine's primary military supporter. Donald Trump criticized this aid during his campaign, but since his inauguration he has not made it clear whether he intends to maintain it or end it.
Ukraine nevertheless fears being pushed to the negotiating table in an unfavorable position, because it is in difficulty on the front, and of being forced to cede its territories occupied by Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a publication on Telegram on Thursday summarizing his interview with the Bloomberg agency, made obtaining real guarantees from his allies a condition for the talks.
“The question is whether Ukraine will be alone (…) or whether Ukraine will be with its allies,” he said, judging that this was the basis for holding “fair negotiations.” “.
Volodymyr Zelensky notably mentioned earlier this week the presence of a contingent of Western troops in the event of a truce.
The Russian army continues to advance in eastern Ukraine, facing exhausted and less well-equipped Ukrainian troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Thursday the capture of the small village of Soloné, in the Donetsk region where the fighting is concentrated.
The United States has already imposed several rounds of sanctions and embargoes on imports from Russia, which have been reduced very significantly, from 4.3 billion dollars from January to November 2023, to 2.9 billion over the same period last year, now less than 0.1% of imports entering the country.
Products imported into the United States include fertilizers and metals in particular.
