The Kremlin on Tuesday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that he will now turn his attention toward ending the war in Ukraine, following his success in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Speaking before Israel’s parliament, Trump said his next diplomatic priority would be “to get Russia done,” signalling renewed U.S. engagement in resolving Europe’s most volatile conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow “certainly welcomes such intentions” and praised Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who has previously met Russian President Vladimir Putin and played a key role in Middle East peace efforts. Peskov said the Kremlin remains “open and ready for peaceful dialogue” and hopes the United States can use its influence to push Kyiv toward serious negotiations.
Why It Matters
Trump’s comments mark the clearest indication yet that his administration intends to pivot diplomatic focus from the Middle East to Eastern Europe, potentially reviving peace initiatives that have been dormant for over a year.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of stalling talks. Russia insists Ukraine has avoided engaging with proposed working groups, while Kyiv maintains that Moscow’s demands amount to a call for surrender. Trump’s stated goal to pursue a deal raises the possibility of a new U.S.-brokered mediation effort though analysts caution that Ukraine’s resistance to concessions and Trump’s past praise of Putin may complicate Washington’s credibility.
Russia: Seeks international legitimacy for renewed talks and hopes Trump’s involvement will pressure Ukraine toward concessions.
United States: Trump is looking to build on his Gaza success to reassert American diplomatic leadership and strengthen ties with Moscow.
Ukraine: Remains wary of peace talks that could freeze the conflict or force territorial compromises.
European Allies: Likely to watch closely as Trump reshapes U.S. policy toward Russia and Ukraine, potentially diverging from NATO’s current stance.
Steve Witkoff: Trump’s special envoy whose role in both Middle East and potential Ukraine diplomacy positions him as a key figure in U.S. mediation.
What’s Next
While the Kremlin expressed optimism about Trump’s intentions, it also signalled frustration that dialogue with Washington has “stalled.” For Trump, success in Ukraine would represent a major geopolitical win following his Middle East breakthrough but the path forward remains uncertain.
Any attempt to launch peace talks will require balancing U.S. influence with Ukrainian sovereignty, amid ongoing fighting and deep mistrust between Moscow and Kyiv. Peskov said Russia hopes “the diplomatic skills of President Trump’s envoys will help encourage the Ukrainian side to engage more actively.”
With information from Reuters.
