Russia open to peace in Ukraine war but achieving goals is priority, Kremlin says after Trump's 50-day ultimatum

Russia is open to a peace settlement with Ukraine but achieving its military and political objectives remains a top priority, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday (July 20), days after US President Donald Trump warned Moscow to agree to a ceasefire within 50 days or face stiffer sanctions.

Speaking to state TV journalist Pavel Zarubin, Peskov said President Vladimir Putin still wanted a peaceful resolution to the war but reiterated that Russia’s conditions for a deal had not changed.

“President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy,” Peskov said.

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“The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear,” he added.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the four regions Moscow annexed in September 2022 but does not fully control. It also wants Ukraine to abandon its bid to join Nato and to accept strict limits on the size and capabilities of its armed forces– conditions that Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected.

Peskov and other Russian officials have denied stalling negotiations, though Moscow continues to escalate its long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities. Analysts say drone attacks in particular are becoming more frequent, with Russia recently launching more drones in a single night than during some full months in 2024.

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Trump’s warning to Moscow

On July 14, Trump hardened his stance towards Moscow, announcing a 50-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face “severe tariffs”. The US president, who had previously expressed frustration over failed negotiations, also said the new measures would target Russia’s trading partners in an effort to further isolate the Kremlin economically.

Trump also unveiled plans to accelerate US military support for Ukraine, stating that European allies would purchase “billions and billions” of dollars’ worth of American defence equipment to transfer to Kyiv. The package is expected to include Patriot air defence systems, which Ukraine has identified as a key priority to counter Russian missile and drone attacks.

The Pentagon had paused some military shipments earlier this year due to concerns over diminishing US stockpiles, prompting doubts over Washington’s ability to maintain steady support for Ukraine.

With inputs from AP