Putin refuses Trump ultimatum/ Sources for Reuters: Russian president will not stop the war
Periskopi
(a year ago)
(a year ago)President Vladimir Putin intends to continue the war in Ukraine until the West engages under its conditions for peace, untouched by Donald Trump's threats of harsher sanctions, and his territorial demands could be expanded as Russian forces advance, three sources near the Kremlin said. Putin, who ordered Russian troops to [...]
President Vladimir Putin intends to continue the war in Ukraine until the West engages under its conditions for peace, untouched by Donald Trump's threats of harsher sanctions, and his territorial demands could be expanded as Russian forces advance, three sources near the Kremlin said.
Putin, who ordered Russian troops to enter Ukraine in February 2022, after eight years of fighting east of the country between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops, believes Russia's economy and army are strong enough to withstand any additional Western size, sources said. Reuters.
Trump on Monday expressed disappointment with Putin's refusal to agree to a ceasefire and announced a wave of weapons supplies to Ukraine, including land-air Patriot missile systems.
He also threatened further sanctions against Russia if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days.
Three Russian sources, familiar with the Kremlin's high-level opinion, said Putin would not stop fighting under pressure from the West and believes Russia has survived the harshest sanctions imposed by the West could endure further economic difficulties, including the US tariff threats targeting Russian oil buyers.
“Putin thinks no one is seriously involved with him for details of peace in Ukraine including Americans so that he will continue until he gets what he wants”, one of the sources told Reuters under anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Despite several calls between Trump and Putin and visits to Russia by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, the Russian leader believes there has been no detailed discussion on the basis of a peace plan, the source said.
“Putin values the relationship with Trump and had good discussions with Witkoff, but Russia's interests are above all”, the person added.
Asked for a comment on Reuters reporting, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly blamed former President Joe Biden for allowing the outbreak of war during his administration.
“Unlike Biden, President Trump is focused on stopping the killings, and Putin will face sanctions and severe tariffs if he does not accept a” ceasefire, she said.
Putin's conditions for peace include a legally binding promise that NATO will not expand eastward, Ukraine's neutrality and restrictions on its armed forces, the protection of Russian speakers living there, and the acceptance of Russia's territorial benefits, sources said.
He is also willing to discuss a security guarantee for Ukraine that includes major powers, though it is not clear how this will work, sources said.
President Voldymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine will never recognise Russia's sovereignty over its conquered regions and that Kiev preserves the sovereign right to decide whether to join NATO. His office did not respond to a request for comments on this article.
A second source familiar with the Kremlin's thinking said Putin considered Moscow's goals much more important than any possible economic losses from Western pressure, and he was not concerned by US threats to impose fees on China and India for buying Russian oil.
Two of the sources said Russia has the advantage in the field of battle and its war-oriented economy is exceeding the production of the US-led NATO alliance in key ammunition, such as artillery shells./Periscopi/