Russia Reaffirms U.S. Ties After Trump Slams Putin
Russia says it continues to cooperate with the U.S. despite Trump's anger at Putin over Ukraine and threats of 50% tariffs on Russian oil buyers.
Russia Maintains U.S. Cooperation Despite Trump's Outburst Over Putin
Russia has affirmed that it remains engaged in cooperation with the United States, following a sharp rebuke from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he was "angry" and "displeased" with President Vladimir Putin.
Responding for the first time to Trump’s criticism, the Kremlin appeared to downplay any tension between the two leaders. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of ongoing diplomatic ties, stating, "We continue to cooperate with the United States, primarily in the interest of developing our bilateral relations."
Peskov clarified that no phone call between Putin and Trump is currently scheduled for this week but noted that the Russian president remains open to dialogue "if necessary."
Trump’s remarks, delivered in an interview with NBC on Sunday, marked a rare public shift in tone. He expressed frustration at Putin for undermining the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and warned of potential consequences.
Specifically, Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on countries that purchase Russian oil if Putin refuses to halt the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—a notable escalation in his rhetoric toward the Russian leader.
Efforts by U.S. and Russian officials to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine have been underway for several weeks. Trump, during this time, has frequently criticized Zelensky while appearing to avoid directly blaming Putin—until now.
The tipping point appears to have come on Friday, when President Putin dismissed a United Nations-backed proposal for a transitional government in Ukraine to replace Zelensky. This triggered Trump’s rare public disapproval.
"I was very angry, I was upset, when... Putin started questioning Zelensky’s credibility because that’s just not the direction we need to go in," Trump told NBC News.
"A new leadership structure means there won’t be a ceasefire agreement for a long time," he added, underlining the urgency of finding a diplomatic resolution.
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