A spokesperson from the Kremlin recently made a statement after Donald Trump decided to pause US military aid to Ukraine.
Trump’s decision to step back from supporting Ukraine sparked some strong reactions, especially since he’s also been vocal about his desire for peace in the region.
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Zelenskyy’s awkward meeting with US officials
When Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visited the White House on February 28, things didn’t exactly go smoothly. His meeting with US officials wasn’t exactly friendly.
Vice-President JD Vance even accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting both the US and Trump. He told Zelenskyy he should be thanking the president instead.
Trump doesn’t hold back on Zelenskyy
Trump didn’t hold back either. He told Zelenskyy he was “in no position to dictate” how the US should feel. Trump made it clear that Ukraine wasn’t in a great place and accused Zelenskyy of putting himself in a “very bad position.”
He went on to warn Zelenskyy, saying, “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards… You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War Three! You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country – this country.”
US decides to pause military aid
Fast forward to March 3, and a White House official shared that the US would be pausing its aid to Ukraine for now. The goal, according to the statement, is to review whether the assistance is helping move things toward a peaceful solution.
“The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well,” the statement said.
Kremlin responds to US halting aid
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov wasted no time reacting to the news, saying that if the US actually does stop supplying aid, it could push Ukraine closer to the peace process.
He was quoted by Reuters, saying, “If this is true, then this is a decision that can really encourage the Kyiv regime to (come to) the peace process.”
US aid to Ukraine has been massive
The US has been a major source of military support for Ukraine since Russia invaded, with the US providing around $65.9 billion in assistance, as revealed by the State Department back in January.
Peskov sees the US as a key player in the war
Peskov didn’t stop there. He added, “It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”
Looking ahead: Will the US move toward peace?
In his closing remarks, Peskov acknowledged Trump’s desire for peace, saying, “We hear his statement about his desire to bring peace to Ukraine, and this is welcome.
“We see certain things and receive certain information about the proposed actions in this direction. This is also welcome. But we will continue to see how the situation develops in reality.”
