MOSCOW – The Kremlin emphasized on Friday that a resolution in Ukraine could not be achieved through a decrease in worldwide oil prices, as suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump.
During a video address from the White House to the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump remarked on Thursday that the OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations carries some responsibility for the Ukraine conflict that has persisted for almost three years due to maintaining high oil prices.
“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” Trump said. Energy sales form a large part of Russia’s earnings.
When questioned about Trump’s statements, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s stance that the origin of the conflict in Ukraine stems from the West’s disregard for Russian security interests.
“The conflict doesn’t depend on oil prices,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “The conflict is ongoing because of the threat to Russia’s national security, the threat to Russians living on those territories and the refusal by the Americans and the Europeans to listen to Russia’s security concerns. It’s not linked to oil prices.”
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin remains ready for contacts with Trump.
Peskov’s comments echoed Putin’s statements that he had to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to fend off a threat to Russia’s security resulting from plans for Ukraine to join NATO and to protect Russian speakers living there. Ukraine and the West have denounced Moscow’s action as an unprovoked act of aggression.
Asked to comment on Trump’s claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready for a peace deal, Peskov pointed out the Ukrainian leader’s earlier decision to rule out any talks with Moscow.
“Zelenskyy can’t be ready for a deal,” Peskov told reporters, adding that “in order to reach a settlement it’s necessary to conduct talks, and Zelenskyy forbade himself to hold talks by his own decree.”
On Wednesday, Trump threatened to impose stiff taxes, tariffs and sanctions on Russia if an agreement isn’t reached to end the war in Ukraine.
Peskov said that the Kremlin was closely following Trump’s statements and noted that he imposed a slew of sanctions during his first term. He said Moscow “remains ready for an equal dialogue, for a mutually respectful dialogue.”
“This dialogue took place between the two presidents during Trump’s first presidency. And we are waiting for signals that we have not received yet,” Peskov said.
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