Despite its public silence, the Kremlin would welcome Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities that incite anger in Washington and reduce US support for Kyiv.
Moscow would also welcome any move by Washington to cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine or block arms sales to Europe destined for Kyiv.
Moscow has expressed open satisfaction at Trump’s declaration that it is “time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a 60-day ceasefire from Russia to enable presidential elections.
Moscow’s response?
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, “The Kremlin, the president, has said many times before, we don’t want a ceasefire, we want a lasting peace, and we’re willing to do whatever’s possible for that.”
However, the Kremlin’s interpretation of “whatever is possible” excludes a 60-day ceasefire, a 30-day ceasefire, or anything approaching those durations.
On Monday, the Kremlin proposed merely a one-day cessation of hostilities to permit elections in Ukraine.
Kyiv and Western observers are unlikely to view such a proposal as a serious offer.
This is hardly surprising, however.
President Putin has displayed little desire to halt the fighting.
Recent statements and signals from Russia’s leader suggest that, with winter approaching, the Kremlin is counting on a continued campaign of strikes to significantly increase pressure on Ukraine.
On Monday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that Ukraine does not deserve the “respite” a ceasefire would bring.
Although the Kremlin claims to seek “lasting peace,” it continues to escalate the fighting in practice.
On Monday, Zelensky reported that Russia had struck several energy targets across Ukraine overnight and into the morning.
The pro-government outlet Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote, “This window of opportunity should be used to knock Ukraine back to the Stone Age and force it to accept peace on Russia’s terms.”
The Kremlin’s objective remains unchanged: Ukraine’s capitulation.
Moscow appears to believe that the potential diesel deal with Trump, alongside the US president’s growing impatience with Zelensky, will assist Russia in securing its goal.
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