Russia May Be ‘Dragging Feet’ On Achieving Peace In Ukraine -Trump

US President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Russia desires to conclude its conflict with Ukraine, though he suggested that Moscow might be “dragging their feet” after the Kremlin challenged reports of agreements reached with the US.

His remarks were made just hours after Russia declared it would only enact a US-mediated agreement to cease hostilities in the Black Sea if certain sanctions on its banks and exports, imposed due to its invasion of Ukraine, are removed.

After days of separate discussions with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, the White House announced on Tuesday that both parties had consented “to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.”

However, while Zelensky affirmed during a press conference that Ukraine had agreed to halt military actions in the Black Sea, the Kremlin issued its own statement on the negotiations, outlining extensive prerequisites for agreeing to the partial ceasefire.

These prerequisites included the removal of sanctions on its agricultural bank and other financial entities and companies engaged in food exports, as well as their reinstatement to the SWIFT international payments system.

The US statements did not indicate that lifting sanctions was a prerequisite for the ceasefire.

“I think Russia would like to see it end and I think (Ukraine’s President Volodymyr) Zelensky would like to see it end, at this point,” Trump said.

Addressing Russia’s conditions, Trump noted that his administration was reviewing them.
“We’re thinking about all of them right now. There are five or six conditions. We are looking at all of them,” he said.

The White House stated that Russia and Ukraine also committed to upholding a previously declared suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure.

Yet, the specifics of that agreement have remained unclear. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Russia ceased targeting energy infrastructure starting March 18, following a phone conversation between Trump and Putin where they discussed the proposal.

Nevertheless, Ukraine has accused Moscow of persisting with attacks on its infrastructure over the past week, with an aide to Zelensky reporting at least eight strikes.

Concurrently, Russia has alleged that Kyiv has targeted its own facilities, including an oil pumping station in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli