Key Points
- Kremlin praises Trump.
- Trump opposes Ukraine firing US missiles deep inside Russia.
- Trump claims he could end Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours.
- Ukraine says Russia launches 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones in a massive attack.
MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Friday said that US President-elect Donald Trump’s stance against Ukraine using US-supplied weapons to strike deep into Russian territory “completely aligns” with Moscow’s position.
Trump in an interview published Thursday said that he disagreed with Ukraine’s use of American-supplied missiles to hit Russian territory.
The remarks were well-received by the Kremlin, which announced on Friday that it had launched a large-scale aerial offensive on Ukraine’s energy grid in retaliation to Kyiv’s recent strike on an airfield using US-supplied weapons.
“The statement fully aligns with our position, with our view on the reasons for escalation. That impresses us. It is obvious that Trump understands exactly what is escalating the situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Trump had told Time Magazine: “I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? I think it’s a foolish decision.”
Moscow has repeatedly condemned the supply of Western arms to Ukraine, arguing that their use makes NATO countries direct participants in the nearly three-year conflict.
During his campaign, Trump claimed he could broker a deal to end the fighting within 24 hours, fueling speculation about a potential ceasefire ahead of his inauguration in January. However, on Friday, the Kremlin stated that its “prerequisites” for engaging in peace talks with Ukraine have not yet been fulfiled.
“We don’t want a ceasefire, we want peace, after our conditions are met and all our goals are achieved,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that the “prerequisites” needed to open negotiations were not in place.
The nearly three-year conflict is intensifying as Trump’s inauguration approaches in January, with both sides striving to secure an advantage on the battlefield amid growing speculation about potential ceasefire talks.
The Russian army carried out a precision strike on major Ukrainian fuel and energy facilities that support the country’s defence industry, the Defence Ministry reported on Friday.
In response to the ATACMS missile attack on the Taganrog military airfield, Russia’s military carried out targeted strikes on crucial Ukrainian fuel and energy infrastructure facilities that ensure the operation of its defence enterprises, the Russian Defence Ministry said.
The attack was carried out with the help of high-precision long-range airborne and sea-based weapons, as well as strike drones. According to the ministry, the strike was a success, hitting all designated facilities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia launched 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones in a massive attack on Ukraine, with Ukrainian air defences intercepting 81 missiles.
The head of state announced this on X said: Another Russian missile strike against Ukraine. Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles. According to preliminary reports, 93 missiles were launched, including at least one North Korean missile. A total of 81 missiles were shot down, 11 of which were cruise missiles intercepted by our F-16s.
