Kremlin Acknowledges Ukraine Peace Efforts Amid Trump’s Frustration with Putin

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump expressing his “pissed off” sentiment towards Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday that discussions regarding a potential peace settlement and improved bilateral relations are ongoing.

Trump, in an interview with NBC News, voiced strong displeasure after Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s credibility. He also threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 25%-50% on buyers of Russian oil if progress on a ceasefire is not achieved.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by stating that Moscow remains committed to working with Washington, emphasizing Putin’s openness to dialogue with Trump. Peskov acknowledged the complexity of the Ukraine situation, noting that “this is a time-consuming process.”

Trump, who has repeatedly stated his desire to broker peace in Ukraine and avert a wider conflict with Russia, has adopted a more conciliatory approach towards Moscow, raising concerns among Western allies. His recent comments, however, reflect growing frustration over the stalled progress in achieving a ceasefire.

Trump’s threat of oil tariffs, aimed at pressuring Russia, has prompted varied reactions. China and India, major buyers of Russian crude, have largely remained unfazed. Beijing stressed its independent cooperation with Moscow, while India declined to comment.

Alongside peace efforts, discussions regarding minerals cooperation have emerged, although Trump indicated that Zelenskiy appeared to be retracting from a proposed deal. A potential call between Trump and Putin could be arranged at short notice, though none is currently scheduled.