The Kremlin said it remains ready for talks with Ukraine, but needs time to respond to the "serious" statements by US President Donald Trump, who announced that he would provide weapons to Kiev and who gave Moscow 50 days to end the war or face sanctions and tariffs of about 100 percent, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"President Trump's statements are very serious. Of course, we need time to analyze what was said in Washington, and if or when President (Vladimir) Putin deems it necessary, he will comment", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, stressing that Russian officials remain "on standby" to negotiate with Ukraine.
Peskov continued, apparently referring to the news of new arms deliveries to Kiev: "The decisions that are made in Washington, in NATO countries and in Brussels are perceived by the Ukrainian side not as a signal for peace, but as a signal for the continuation of the war".
He stressed that Russia is ready to continue direct negotiations with Ukraine and is still waiting for a signal from Kiev about when the next talks will be held.
Yesterday in the Oval Office of the White House during his conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the US president told journalists that he was deeply disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition to the announced new arms deliveries to Kiev and the threat of imposing sanctions and tariffs on Russia, Trump also warned of imposing secondary sanctions on countries that buy crude oil from Russia if Moscow does not conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days, Reuters notes.
Later, Trump, who has repeatedly stated that he wants to go down in history as a peacemaker, told the BBC about the Russian president: "I'm disappointed in him, but I'm not done with him".