WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

After Trump comments, Kremlin reaffirms opposition to European peacekeepers in Ukraine

The Kremlin, asked about an assertion by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia was open to European peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine, referred reporters to an earlier statement that such a move would be unacceptable to Moscow.

Russia has repeatedly said it opposes having NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying last week that Moscow would view that as a "direct threat" to Russia's sovereignty, even if the troops operated there under a different flag.

Asked about Trump's comment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from publicly contradicting the U.S. president, but effectively reaffirmed Russia's opposition to the idea.

"There is a position on this matter that was expressed by the Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov. I have nothing to add to this and nothing to comment on. I leave this without comment," said Peskov.

Trump said on Monday that both he and Putin accepted the idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine if a settlement was reached to end the war.

"Yeah, he will accept that," Trump said. "I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it."

Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, did not respond directly to the Kremlin's latest comment, saying the Trump administration would continue to work with Moscow and Kyiv to end the war.

"President Trump’s commitment to achieving an end to this brutal, bloody war and then establishing the framework for a lasting peace will not be negotiated through the media," Hughes said.

"The Trump administration knows that sustaining peace requires Europe to do more, and we have heard leaders like (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron and British Prime Minister (Keir) Starmer - as well as others - offer to do just that. We continue to work with Russia and Ukraine for peace because you can’t end a war without talking to both sides."

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Militarizing Europe has no right to take part in talks on Ukraine — foreign ministry

Having embarked on a path of militarization, Europe has lost the right to claim any participation in talks in Ukraine and is drifting toward isolation, the Russian foreign ministry said in a commentary following the adoption of UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on the Ukrainian crisis.

"In general, the discussions and voting at the UN clearly demonstrate that the world community wants peace. European countries, having firmly committed to militarization, have justifiably lost their claim to a role in negotiating a resolution to the Ukraine crisis and are becoming more isolated. Significant shifts in the positions of the global majority nations are evident, reflecting a growing sense of realism and a desire to expedite the end of the conflict," it said.

According to the ministry, the US-drafted resolution on Ukraine is a step in the right direction, reasserting the new US administration’s intention to make a contribution to the settlement process.

US-drafted resolution on Ukraine

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted in favor of the US resolution concerning the conflict in Ukraine, adopting the document in its original version. The Security Council rejected both the anti-Russian amendments proposed by European countries and the changes put forth by Russia aimed at clarifying the assessment of the Ukrainian crisis. The US abstained from voting on all amendments.

The adopted resolution is written in a neutral tone. It expresses sorrow for those killed in the Ukrainian conflict and emphasizes the United Nations’ role in maintaining international peace and security. It also calls for ending the conflict and establishing lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Prior to this, the UN General Assembly voted on two resolutions on the Ukrainian crisis. One of them was drafted by the Kiev authorities jointly with a number of European countries and was openly anti-Russian. The second one, proposed by the United States, was neutral. Both resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly but European countries introduced anti-Russian amendments to the US draft and the United States abstained from voting on the amended document.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said that Europe’s anti-Russian amendments to the UNGA resolution on Ukraine distorted the United States’ once neutral draft. At the same time, he said that Moscow hails Washington’s initiative and that the very voting proved that the path to peaceful settlement is not going to be easy.

Reuters/Tass