Kremlin says Trump circle is talking about a Ukraine peace deal while Biden escalates
MOSCOW − The Kremlin said Monday that it had noted President-elect Donald Trump's circle was speaking about a peace plan for Ukraine while the administration of President Joe Biden was not and was seeking to escalate the conflict instead.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made his remarks after being asked to comment on an interview that Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for national security adviser, gave to Fox News on Sunday.
Waltz said that Trump had been "very concerned" about an escalation in fighting between Russia and Ukraine and that the war must be brought "to a responsible end."
Waltz noted what he said was the involvement of North Korea and Iran in the conflict, Russia's use of a hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine and a decision by some Western countries to let Kyiv fire their missiles deep into Russia. He also said South Korea was considering whether to get involved in the conflict.
"What we need to be discussing is who's at that table, whether it's an agreement, an armistice, how to get both sides to the table, and then what's the framework of a deal," Waltz said.
Peskov said the Kremlin had taken note of the comments and that President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly signaled Moscow was ready for dialogue.
"Indeed, from the circle of Trump supporters and those who have been nominated for future positions in the future administration, the word 'peace' or 'peace plan' is being heard," Peskov said when asked about Waltz's comments.
"No such words are being heard from the current (Biden) administration, while provocative escalatory actions continue. That is the reality that we face," he said.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and now holds 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Putin spelled out in June what he wanted as conditions for peace talks: for Ukraine to drop its NATO membership ambitions, and for Ukraine to hand over the entirety of four provinces claimed by Moscow.
Moscow says the terms reflect reality on the battlefield, where Russian forces have been advancing. But Ukraine says such terms would amount to an unacceptable capitulation.