Kremlin says Trump is mistaken about impact of strikes on Russia

Oleksandr Shumilin - 9 July, 13:35

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Photo: Russian media

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the administration of US President Donald Trump is mistaken if it believes Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory will help bring the war to a peaceful end.

Source: Peskov, as quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax

Details: Responding to Trump's remarks that long-range strikes deep inside Russia represent an escalation that could bring the war to an end, Peskov said:

"Rather, we see certain misconceptions within the White House administration that escalation and military pressure can help facilitate a transition to a peaceful settlement."

He described that assessment as incorrect.

Quote from Peskov: "Further escalation may, to some extent, prolong the special military operation – we cannot say exactly to what extent – but it will lead to the need for us to create a larger security zone, a larger buffer zone." [The "special military operation" is the Russian propaganda term for the war against Ukraine – ed.]

Details: Peskov also commented on US plans to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles.

"As regards the Patriot, yes, it is an obvious fact that the United States continues to supply weapons and military technologies to Ukraine – we know that," he said. "We are not looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses, and President Vladimir Putin understands this perfectly well. However, there is a certain duality in the US position. Unlike the Europeans, the United States still maintains a desire to facilitate a transition to a peace process." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president – ed.]

Background:

During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, Trump said that Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries are an escalation that could help bring the war to an end.
He also announced that the US will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles.

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