Several high-ranking officials from the entourage of US President Donald Trump are advising him to be more skeptical of Moscow's statements about its desire for peace with Ukraine, writes Wall Street Journal.
According to sources in the publication, such advice is given by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. Kellogg said on Sunday that Russia's attack on Sumy "crossed all lines of decency", while Rubio called it "appalling".
Officials are advising Trump to be more careful with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They advise taking a tougher stance when it comes to Moscow's demands for territorial concessions from Kiev.
However, Trump, writes WSJ, shares the view of his special envoy Steve Witkoff. After two meetings with Putin, Witkoff believes that the Russian president wants peace in Ukraine.
Former senior US State Department official Daniel Fried told WSJ that the department, together with the Treasury Department, is preparing options for tightening sanctions against Russia. He said officials believe they have "political support" to consider tougher sanctions "if Trump really decides that Putin is fed up".