The Kremlin: A Large Part of Ukraine Wants to Be Russian
Hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine “could become Russian one day,” the Kremlin said on Tuesday that “a large part” of Ukraine “wants to be Russian,” affirming that the situation in Ukraine “largely aligns with President Trump’s words.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “It is a fact that a significant part of Ukraine wants to be Russian, and it has already become so,” referring to Moscow’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions in 2022.
Trump has stated that ending the war is one of his top priorities in the early months of his potential presidency. Moscow has welcomed his focus on ending the conflict, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness for direct talks with Trump on the matter.
Kyiv fears that any settlement lacking firm military commitments, such as NATO membership or the deployment of Western peacekeeping forces, could benefit the Kremlin, allowing it to regroup and rearm for a new offensive.
The New York Post reported that Trump said he had spoken with Putin by phone to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
When reporters aboard Air Force One asked Trump how many times he had spoken with Putin, he responded, “It’s better if I don’t say.”
Trump added to the New York Post, “He (Putin) wants no more deaths.”
