The Kremlin has reacted cautiously to a pledge by US president Donald Trump to send more weapons to Ukraine, and condemned calls from European and US politicians for a new wave of western economic sanctions to drain Russia’s war chest.
“We’re going to send some more weapons ... They have to be able to defend themselves,” Mr Trump said in Washington, following heavy Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine that coincided with a halt in supplies of some US arms to Kyiv.
“They’re getting hit very hard now,” Mr Trump added. “We’re going to have to send more weapons, defensive weapons, primarily.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not criticise Mr Trump’s announcement, amid Russian hopes that he will continue to press Ukraine to accept the need for painful territorial and other concessions to end more than three years of all-out war.
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“There was no conclusive information that deliveries to Ukraine were stopped or suspended ... As for what supplies and what quantities [or arms] continue to arrive in Ukraine from the US – it will take time to get final clarification,” he said on Tuesday.
“It is obvious that deliveries are continuing, it is obvious that the Europeans are also actively participating in pumping Ukraine full of weapons. These actions are surely not in line with attempts to facilitate a peaceful settlement. In this case, the policy that the Europeans have chosen is clearly aimed at fuelling the continuation of hostilities.”
Reports in US media said defence secretary Pete Hegseth had halted provision to Ukraine of Patriot air defence missiles and other vital weaponry, and some Democrat Congressmen questioned the claim that the move was necessary to protect US stockpiles.
In his nightly address to his nation on Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his administration was “continuing our work to counter air strikes”.
“Everything related to air defence is today our top priority – air defence systems, missiles for them, and drone-based air defence. We are also preparing new agreements with partners and expect to formalise them in the coming weeks,” he added.
Mr Trump said last week that he had been left “very disappointed” by a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who continues to reject a US proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that Kyiv said it was ready to accept in March.
Russia’s recalcitrance has prompted European states and some US politicians to press for tougher sanctions on its economy.
“Instead of honouring the 30-day ceasefire proposed by President Trump, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian cities fivefold. This cannot go on – it must stop,” French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday.
“To make that happen, Europe is preparing, in co-ordination with US senators, the most severe sanctions against Russia in the past three years. These measures will directly drain the resources that allow Vladimir Putin to continue his war,” he added.
US senator Lindsey Graham has said Mr Trump has urged him to call a vote on a new sanctions Bill targeting Russia.
“The Senate will move the bipartisan Russian sanctions Bill that will allow tariffs and sanctions to be placed on countries who prop up Putin’s war machine and do not help Ukraine,” he said.
Mr Peskov said the Kremlin was monitoring sanctions moves by the US and Europe.
“The United States is currently implementing a number of restrictions. We believe these sanctions are illegal, they harm not only our entrepreneurs but also entrepreneurs in the United States,” he said.
“We believe there is a very broad potential between our countries for restarting trade and economic relations,” he added. “These projects are really in demand by business representatives of the two countries and are capable of bringing big profits.”
