The Kremlin has responded to recent public statements by former US President Donald Trump regarding the situation in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, the official Kremlin spokesperson, commented on information about the potential closure of the airspace over Ukraine and also refuted rumors of a phone call between the leaders of the two countries.
No Contact: Trump and Putin
The Kremlin spokesperson confirmed that Donald Trump did not contact Vladimir Putin by phone on July 8, despite public promises to do so. Peskov suggested that the head of the White House had other business but emphasized the Russian leader's readiness for dialogue.
"Trump was obviously busy yesterday and did not call Putin, but the President of the Russian Federation is always ready to talk," Peskov stated.
"False Perceptions" Regarding Escalation
The Kremlin paid special attention to Trump's words about the possibility of Kyiv striking deep into Russian territory. Moscow does not consider these statements an escalation of the conflict. The Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation regards them as "false perceptions of the US leadership" regarding the current situation.
Statement on Closing the Skies
Peskov also commented on the idea of potentially closing the airspace over Ukraine, noting that Trump spoke about this for the first time. Previously, the topic was not discussed, but now it raises questions in Moscow.
"There were no such statements before. No one discussed the topic of closing the airspace before. In any case, it is about NATO armed forces operating on the territory of Ukraine. This is exactly what the "SVO" (how Russia calls the war against Ukraine - ed.) is being carried out against. It is important to understand this. Therefore, this still needs to be considered. Consider how well this issue has been worked out and between whom it has been worked out," Peskov stated.
Patriot License and Support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Earlier, it was reported that Donald Trump promised to provide Ukraine with a license to produce Patriot air defense missile systems. In addition, he expressed approval of powerful strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Russian territory, stating that such actions could bring peace to the country.
Interestingly, Trump also named his "favorite soldier" in Ukraine, which became an additional reason to discuss his position in the conflict.
