Russia considers the resolution of its ongoing conflict with Ukraine to be a prolonged endeavor, a Kremlin representative stated on Monday. This comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s expressed frustration as he seeks to foster peace between the two nations.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, noted during a call with reporters that efforts are underway to implement certain ideas aimed at resolving the Ukrainian situation. However, he emphasized that progress remains elusive, describing the process as lengthy due to its inherent complexities.
The comments came after Trump’s irritation with Russian President Vladimir Putin surfaced, especially regarding Putin’s dismissal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s authority to negotiate a settlement. Russia has tentatively turned down a U.S. suggestion for a comprehensive and immediate 30-day cessation of hostilities. The likelihood of even a partial ceasefire along the Black Sea is uncertain, given the stern conditions set by Russian negotiators.
During the previous U.S. election campaign, Trump pledged to swiftly bring an end to what has become Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Meanwhile, Peskov refrained from directly responding to Trump’s critique of Putin, in which Trump expressed his anger over Putin’s remarks about Zelenskyy’s leadership credentials.
Nevertheless, Peskov conveyed that Putin remains open to discussions with the U.S. president and is prepared for a dialogue. Both nations appear to be gearing up for an anticipated spring-summer military campaign, according to analysts and officials from Ukraine and Western countries.
On Monday, Putin ordered the regular semi-annual conscription of 160,000 for mandatory military service lasting a year. Russian authorities claim these troops are comprised only of volunteers with military contracts, excluding conscripts from frontline duty. Nonetheless, incidents have occurred, such as when draftees were captured following a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy remarked on Sunday evening that Russian assaults show no sign of abating since their invasion commenced in February 2022. He argued that the persistent scale and ferocity of Russian military actions indicate Putin’s disregard for diplomatic efforts.
Zelenskyy urged for heightened international pressure on Moscow, including imposing additional sanctions to press Russia toward negotiations. At a summit in Madrid, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Russia’s reluctance to seek peace.
President Trump has signaled that he might contemplate further sanctions against Russia, aiming to further impact its economy. Additionally, measures against Russian oil exports could be considered.
Meanwhile, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, experienced another Russian drone strike overnight, inflicting injuries on three individuals, as reported by Ukraine’s Interior Ministry on Monday. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles along with 131 Shahed and decoy drones, according to the Ukrainian air force.
In contrast, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that their air defenses successfully intercepted 66 Ukrainian drones over three Russian regions early on Monday. A statement from the ministry accused Ukrainian forces of continuously targeting Russian energy installations, alleging a lack of commitment to the conflict’s resolution by Kyiv.