Trump: Ukraine should not make Moscow a target of attacks

Russia - US President Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine should not make Moscow a target of attacks. This came after the Kremlin accused the US of new plans to provide weapons to Kyiv and threats of sanctions against Russia, saying that this is not conducive to peace.

Trump gave Russia 50 days on Monday to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine, expressed anger towards Moscow, and announced that NATO member states will provide new military aid to Kyiv.

The Financial Times reported that Trump discussed with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy the issue of providing missiles to strike Moscow.

However, when White House reporters asked Trump whether Zelenskyy should consider attacking the Russian capital, Trump replied, "No, he should not make Moscow a target of attacks."

In response to Trump's remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "It seems that this decision made directly by Washington, NATO countries, and Brussels will not be seen by Kyiv as a signal for peace, but as a continuation of the war."

Moscow said it needs more time to fully respond to Trump's statement on Monday.

"President Trump's statement is very serious. We certainly need time to analyze what Washington has said," he told reporters in Moscow in his first reaction to the remarks.

Trump warned that if an agreement is not reached, he would impose high tariffs on Russia's remaining trade partners to weaken Moscow's ability to fund its military offensive.

Thanks to the huge expenditures by the Russian government on soldiers and weapons, as well as the redirection of important energy exports to countries such as China and India, the Russian economy has so far successfully resisted the attempts by the US and the EU to push Russia into a deep recession through sanctions.

Most European allies welcomed the return of the US's tough stance, although Slovakia, led by pro-Moscow populist Robert Fico, has been resisting new EU sanctions against Russia.

However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also called on the US to help fund new weapons.

"We welcome President Trump's announcement of sending more weapons to Ukraine, but we hope to see the US share the burden," Kallas said after the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.

She said, "If you promise to provide weapons, but say it's someone else who pays, then it's actually not what you provided."

Source: rfi

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837759875143881/

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