MOSCOW – The Kremlin has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of being unwilling to seek peace, following a heated public confrontation between him and US President Donald Trump last week.
“He doesn’t want peace. Someone should make him want peace. If the Europeans do it, all kudos to them,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov described the dispute between Trump and Zelensky as an “unprecedented event” and blamed the Ukrainian leader for a “complete lack of diplomatic abilities.” He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin was aware of the clash and believed it validated Russia’s stance on the conflict.
The Kremlin suggested that European allies may now need to step in to ease tensions with Washington, saying that “sizable efforts” would be required to mend relations after the fallout from the Trump-Zelensky exchange.
The remarks come as European leaders held crisis talks in London over the weekend, where Zelensky signaled a willingness to work with Europe on defining terms for a potential peace deal. However, Peskov noted that while some peace plans were being discussed, a clear and coherent strategy had yet to emerge.
He also claimed that Western unity on Ukraine was beginning to waver. Meanwhile, Russia remains committed to its ongoing military campaign, which Peskov reiterated was aimed at achieving Moscow’s original objectives.