Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev sharply commented on the statements about US President Donald Trump and Russia's progress by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, TASS reports.
"Two bad news for the twin brothers (Merz and Macron - TASS note): Trump is alive, Russia is moving forward", the politician wrote in X.
Medvedev also attached a screenshot of the text. In the publication, he called the politicians "twins", one of whom "thirsts for revenge" and the other "blackmails Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin".
The deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council added that Western leaders have forgotten the lessons of World War II, stressing that "everything can end the same way as in 1945".
Macron said earlier this week that France would push for a new package of primary and secondary sanctions against Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by Monday.
Merz warned that the war in Ukraine could continue "for many more months", despite Washington's efforts to reach a ceasefire. "I have no illusions about a quick end to the war, but I promise that we will not abandon Ukraine", he said.
The German Chancellor stressed that he was not surprised by the Kremlin's reluctance to hold direct talks between Putin and Zelensky. "This is part of the Russian president's strategy. It became clear to me at the beginning of this week that Putin does not want to meet with Zelensky and is setting conditions that are completely unacceptable," Merz said.
European powers are undermining Trump's efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
According to him, the "European party of war" continues to hinder the efforts of the United States and Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. He stressed that Russia is open to solving the problem through political and diplomatic means. Peskov said Moscow sees no reciprocity from Kiev in this regard, and that the special military operation will therefore continue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The United States says more than 1.2 million people have been killed and wounded in the war since 2022. Russia currently controls just under a fifth of Ukraine.
European countries do not believe Putin wants peace in Ukraine. Putin has repeatedly said he is ready to discuss peace, noting that Russia will not give up the lands it has seized in Ukraine.