Kremlin responds to Trump criticism of Putin
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is always guided by the interests of his country and its people, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that the start of the so-called special military operation was one of those decisions.
What Trump said
The day before, US President Donald Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin should have won the war in Ukraine within a week. Instead, it has been going on for almost four years.
"Look, I'm very disappointed because Vladimir (Russian President Vladimir Putin - ed.) and I had a very good relationship. Probably still do. I don't know why he continues with this war. This war has been so bad for him," Trump said.
What the Kremlin said
"He (Russian President Vladimir Putin - ed.) always acts to ensure the present and future of our people. The special military operation is being carried out precisely for this purpose," Peskov said in response to criticism from US President Donald Trump.
At the same time, the Kremlin spokesman again repeated that Putin is allegedly open to moving the process into a political and diplomatic track, but that the problem does not lie with Russia. Peskov once again claimed that the provocations come from Kyiv and its European allies.
Trump's peace initiatives
Since the beginning of his second term, US President Donald Trump has been trying to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, repeatedly contacting Vladimir Putin, including during a meeting in Alaska in August. However, Putin rejected proposals for a ceasefire and, after the talks, intensified missile strikes on Ukraine.
Later, Trump admitted that Putin had disappointed him, emphasizing that their "very good relationship" means nothing. At the same time, he remains confident that the war will soon end and everything will be done right.
According to him, relations between Putin and Zelenskyy are terrible. However, he believes a solution to end the war will be found.
