Russia said that any restoration of relations with the United States would be possible only if the sanctions imposed on Moscow were lifted, News.bg reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on information from Reuters, according to which the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering easing the sanctions regime against Russia in order to restore ties between the two countries and end the war in Ukraine.
“Perhaps it is too early to comment, as we have not heard official statements. In any case, our position is well known – we consider the sanctions illegal“, Peskov said. He stressed that the normalization of bilateral relations must be accompanied by the removal of this “negative burden“.
Stopping military aid to Ukraine heightens tensions
Meanwhile, last night, President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine, which further increased tensions between Washington and Kiev. In addition, according to sources, Trump is considering stopping sharing intelligence with Ukrainian authorities - a move that could seriously weaken the country's defense capabilities against Russian forces.
The Kremlin's reaction was cautious. “We are yet to learn more details, but if the information is correct, this could push Kiev towards a peace process“, Peskov said, quoted by TASS.
Ukraine's allies expressed disappointment with Washington's decision, but refrained from harsh criticism. Meanwhile, Reuters, citing an anonymous source, confirmed that US military supplies to Ukraine were suspended at 03:30 Kyiv time.
Impacts on the Ukrainian Army
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration has suspended funding for new arms supplies to Ukraine and is considering freezing transfers of military equipment from US stocks. If these restrictions are implemented, Ukraine could lose access to key military technologies, including air defense systems, ballistic missiles and long-range artillery.
The Washington Post reported that at an upcoming meeting with senior officials, Donald Trump will discuss the possibility of further limiting military aid, ending intelligence sharing and reducing training programs for the Ukrainian military.
“In addition to stopping ammunition and radar, the measures under discussion include limiting military training for Ukrainian pilots and soldiers,“ the publication wrote.