Kremlin ‘agrees’ with Trump as he calls Biden’s ATACMS nod to Ukraine a ‘foolish decision’

Russia on Friday got on the same page with US President-elect Donald Trump when he expressed his opposition to Ukraine’s use of American-made weapons.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “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.”

In an interview to mark his being named Time’s Person of the Year, Trump said, “It’s crazy what’s taking place. It’s crazy. I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We’re just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done.”

Last month, US President Joe Biden lifted a ban on the deployment of US-made ATACMS missiles by Kyiv to strike deep inside Ukraine, a move that was vehemently opposed by Moscow.

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The decision came after pleas from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The White House cited Russia’s deployment of 15,000 North Korean troops along the battlefront as the main reason why Biden changed his mind.

Trump claimed on the campaign trail that he could strike a deal to end the fighting in 24 hours, and speculation over a possible ceasefire is ramping up ahead of his inauguration in January.

But the Kremlin said Friday that its “prerequisites” for holding peace talks with Ukraine had not yet been met.

“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.

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Trump, who takes office on January 20, met last weekend with Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Trump’s promise to end the conflict swiftly has raised concerns in Kyiv that it could be largely on Moscow’s terms.

With inputs from agencies