Russia had some strong words for the U.S. media.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin strongly rejected former President Trump’s assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be open to the idea of European peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed the matter, stating that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had already made the country’s stance clear on the issue, as reported by TASS. Peskov emphasized that there would be no further comments or additions to Lavrov’s position.
Lavrov had previously made it clear that Russia would oppose the presence of any NATO-aligned troops in Ukraine, even if they were deployed under European Union or other national flags as part of a peace agreement. According to Lavrov, the presence of such forces would remain “unacceptable” to Russia, highlighting the firm stance on any foreign military involvement in the region following a peace settlement.
Trump, in a statement to the press on Monday, expressed confidence that Putin would not oppose peacekeepers in Ukraine. In a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump asserted that he had directly asked Putin about the matter and received a positive response. “If we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war,” Trump claimed, indicating that Putin would not object to peacekeepers entering Ukraine to help stabilize the situation.
French President Macron has been a vocal proponent of deploying European troops to Ukraine to enforce peace once an agreement is reached. Macron emphasized that French forces would not be involved in combat but would be tasked with maintaining peace.
However, Putin seemed to downplay the discussion of peacekeepers in a recent interview, noting that he had not yet engaged in detailed talks with Trump about the Ukrainian conflict. He suggested that future conversations would be possible if US-Russia relations improved.
Peskov acknowledged that a great deal of work would be needed to rebuild trust between the two nations. He underscored that restoring relations would take time and careful steps, citing the damage that has been done to diplomatic ties.
Despite these tensions, there is a shared interest in future cooperation, especially in the area of rare-earth minerals, a key resource in the global economy. Peskov indicated that both the US and Russia have mutual interests in this sector, with the Kremlin exploring ways to develop its own strategic resources. This opens the door to potential collaboration once the conflict is resolved and diplomatic relations are restored.
As the US continues to put pressure on Ukraine to cover its military aid with resources, particularly rare-earth minerals, it remains clear that both sides are eyeing long-term strategic interests beyond the immediate conflict. The prospect of greater economic cooperation could serve as a crucial element in restoring stability and fostering better US-Russia relations in the future.