Kremlin officials praised Donald Trump’s remarks urging Ukraine to hold presidential elections, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced EU provocation—affirming long‑established Moscow positions.
Kremlin spokesman on Ukrainian elections
Dmitry Peskov, at a Wednesday press conference, noted that Donald Trump’s Politico interview suggested Ukraine should conduct presidential elections. He stated that the Ukrainian president’s openness to that possibility was “quite new” compared with Putin’s long‑dated advocacy of the process.
Peskov emphasized that a stable, long‑term peace—achieved through signing the appropriate documents—is an absolute priority. He added that Trump’s remarks align with the Russian position, enhancing prospects for a peaceful resolution.
Lavrov criticizes EU provocations
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine and simultaneously lambasted EU states for attempting to derail peace negotiations and provoking Ukrainians against Russia.
Lavrov said the EU is deluded that it can defeat Russia, added that Trump is the only Western politician who truly understands the war’s causes, and claimed Moscow and Washington have reached an agreement to continue work aimed at ending the conflict.
Kremlin approves of Trump
Even before Peskov’s conference, media reports indicated Moscow was pleased with Trump’s narrative on Ukraine. The Kremlin welcomed his comments on Ukrainian elections, viewing them as a tool of Russian disinformation intended to undermine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy.
After Trump declared that Kyiv uses the war to delay elections, Zelensky announced that a vote would be organized, while stressing that American and EU partners must ensure voter security.
