The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump accusing Vladimir Putin of “playing with fire” by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Ukraine, reported by NDTV. In response, Moscow emphasized that President Putin is guided solely by Russia’s national interests, not foreign pressure.
Trump’s provocative statement, posted on Truth Social, came as Russia launched one of the deadliest missile and drone barrages of the three-year-old war. “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened in Russia—and I mean REALLY BAD,” Trump wrote. “He’s playing with fire.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by acknowledging Trump’s past efforts toward a peaceful resolution, saying Russia “appreciates the mediation efforts of President Trump personally.” Still, Peskov noted that “there are a lot of nuances” left to resolve in negotiations, and that Russia’s strategic priorities would not be compromised.
“Just like the United States, Russia has its own national interests,” Peskov told reporters. “For our president, they are paramount.”
The Kremlin said it remains committed to dialogue with both Kyiv and Washington, and is preparing for the next phase of negotiations. However, the tone sharpened when Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov suggested Trump lacked clarity on the ground realities. “We conclude that Trump is not sufficiently informed about the nature of Ukraine’s ongoing attacks, including acts of terrorism against civilians,” Ushakov told Russian state TV.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones in a massive overnight raid, including several targeting Moscow—further escalating tensions ahead of any potential diplomatic breakthrough.
While Trump continues to frame himself as a potential peacemaker, Moscow signaled that any deal must align with its security and geopolitical interests.
