Backing Trump: Peskov Comments on Trump’s Remarks About Replacing Ukraine’s President

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that to end the conflict, Volodymyr Zelenskyy must make difficult and responsible decisions—but has so far shown no readiness to shoulder such responsibility.

Peskov stated, “What matters to us is that someone within the Kyiv regime demonstrates political will to acknowledge the current reality and pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”

This statement effectively serves as implicit endorsement of Donald Trump’s call for a leadership change in Ukraine, though it stops short of direct demand. Rather than saying a replacement is necessary, Peskov emphasized the need for “political will” to be demonstrated.

Peskov did not explicitly support a leadership change, but implied Zelenskyy’s inadequacy. He suggested Trump’s proposal arose because Zelenskyy lacks the political will required to end the war. This interpretation frames Trump’s remarks as a rational demand while shifting responsibility onto Zelenskyy.

The Russian position remains unchanged

By “acknowledging the current reality,” Moscow consistently refers to recognizing Crimea and the four eastern Ukrainian regions as part of Russia, and Ukraine’s renunciation of NATO membership. Peskov did not specify terms, but the phrase “acknowledge reality” itself functions as a euphemism for Russia’s non-negotiable precondition in negotiations.

Using Trump to pressure Kyiv

Trump’s public call for a leadership change was swiftly echoed by Peskov, creating an implicit alignment between Washington and Moscow on the idea that Zelenskyy is an obstacle. However, Russia made no commitment to accept any specific proposals put forward by Trump.

Zelenskyy responded promptly. On the 11th, he asserted that Ukraine’s leadership should be determined by its people, noting that elections cannot be held during wartime, and offered a condition: if Putin agrees to a 60-day comprehensive ceasefire, Ukraine will hold elections. This effectively returns the initiative to Putin—your willingness to cease fire would trigger a leadership transition.

European countries have all reaffirmed their support for Zelenskyy. Germany’s foreign minister pledged continued full backing; the UK prime minister reiterated complete support for Ukraine; Czech Prime Minister described the U.S. move as a “slap in the face” to Europe.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, argued that Trump’s comments would not have substantial impact on the situation, and that Russia should avoid “excessive optimism.”

Peskov’s remarks do not signal a shift in Russia’s official stance. Instead, they represent a strategic reinforcement of Russia’s negotiation threshold: someone in Kyiv must be willing to accept Russia’s defined “reality.” Trump seeks rapid de-escalation to serve domestic political interests; Putin aims to solidify military gains on the ground; Zelenskyy remains caught between them, unable to unilaterally concede while facing growing risks of reduced Western aid. The gap among the three parties’ objectives remains vast.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878818384025604/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.