The press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, has praised recent statements by US President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine. Peskov noted that the Kremlin agrees with the main theses covering Ukraine’s NATO membership, territorial issues, and holding elections in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that Donald Trump is the only Western politician who, according to Moscow, understands the root causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Such comments signal the Kremlin’s willingness to align with Trump on issues like blocking Ukraine’s NATO accession and recognizing Russia’s status over occupied territories—positions matching long-standing Russian interests.
The Kremlin hopes that American, European capitals, and Kyiv will recognize the annexation of Crimea and currently occupied Ukrainian regions. Trump has sometimes suggested the possibility of US recognition of these claims, though there are no legal grounds for such actions at this time.
Regarding elections, Trump’s criticism about their absence in Ukraine omits the impact of Russian aggression, which has made safe voting impossible. This narrative mirrors Russian propaganda aimed at delegitimizing the Ukrainian government.
Experts believe Kremlin compliments toward Trump are not just an attempt to sway the US leader but also a sign of converging US and Russian views on Ukraine. This comes amid broad US public support for Ukraine. Analysts warn such rhetoric could weaken US foreign policy positions and its adherence to democratic values.
