Ukraine “must be forced into peace,” and the situation for Kyiv at the front — as well as its negotiating position — “is relentlessly deteriorating by the day,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in comments to state TV channel Rossiya 1.
“Zelensky is trying to show the Europeans, who will now play the role of bankroller, as well as the Europeans’ handlers, that he’s such a brave warrior. Meanwhile, the situation on the fronts suggests the opposite. With each passing day, the situation for Ukraine is relentlessly deteriorating. And with each passing day, Ukraine’s negotiating positions are worsening. They should recognize this,” Russian media quoted him as saying.
Peskov added that it’s not even worth discussing how Russia would view attempts to attack the Kremlin, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said are possible.
“Our commander-in-chief, the president, has already spoken on this topic. It’s better not even to talk about it, and everyone understands that,” he said.
Peskov also said US President Donald Trump “still wants to help resolve the Ukrainian conflict and still has the political will to do so.”
Contrary to a narrative promoted by Russian propaganda, Ukraine is so far winning the war. Even US President Donald Trump, who in February 2025 told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he should yield to Russia’s demands because “you have no trump cards,” said this week that “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and win.” The Financial Times has analyzed why Ukraine is winning the war and why Russia has failed to achieve its main goal — the destruction of the Ukrainian nation.
