The Kremlin has said that it agreed with US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks about the dangers of Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia using American-made long-range weapons.
This came a day after Trump said in an interview with Time magazine that he “very vehemently” disagrees with the long-range strikes deep into Russia, arguing that this is escalating the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and is “making it worse.”
“That should not have been allowed to be done. Now they’re doing not only missiles, but they’re doing other types of weapons. And I think that’s a very big mistake, very big mistake.”
Donald Trump
Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said, “The statement itself completely coincides with our position.”
“That is, in this case, we have the same vision of the reasons for the escalation. And, of course, we like this. It is obvious that Trump understands that it is escalating the situation around the conflict.”
Dmitry Peskov
Also, Peskov said that it is not worth trying to predict what kind of actions will be taken by the US in this regard following Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, expressing that Moscow will wait until the US President-elect officially takes office.
Commenting on hopes for a quick peaceful settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war, Peskov again argued to wait for the steps the US will take following Trump’s inauguration, recalling the “unfriendly” step taken against Moscow during his first term in office.
He further said that the idea of deploying troops to Ukraine from European countries to monitor a potential cease-fire is something that should be discussed during the peace talks.
Peskov went on to reaffirm that Russia is open to negotiations with Ukraine based on agreements reached during talks in Istanbul in April 2022, but that there still are no prerequisites for such talks, because the Ukrainian side is “avoiding them and excluding them.”
Uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year.
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue.
Russia Launches Massive Aerial Attack Against Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year.
He added that Russia is “terrorizing millions of people” with such assaults, renewing his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“A strong reaction from the world is needed: a massive strike – a massive reaction. This is the only way to stop terror.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said the Russian military used long-range precision missiles and drones on “critically important fuel and energy facilities in Ukraine that ensure the functioning of the military industrial complex.”
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv said that Friday’s attack also targeted transport networks and other key facilities.
Ukraine’s biggest private energy company, DTEK, said that the attack “seriously damaged” its thermal power plants.
Russia has repeatedly attempted to cripple Ukraine’s electricity system in an effort to break the will of civilians left in the dark with no running water or heating and to disrupt Ukrainian defense manufacturing.
Ukrainian Energy Minister, Herman Halushchenko said that energy workers were doing everything necessary to “minimize negative consequences for the energy system,” promising to release more details on damages once the security situation allowed it.
READ ALSO: Bulls on Rampage as GSE Adds Over 14 Points
