The Kremlin said yesterday that Russia and the United States are working on ideas for a possible peace solution in Ukraine and to build bilateral relations, despite US President Donald Trump saying he was "furious" with Vladimir Putin.
Trump told NBC that he was very angry after the Russian leader questioned the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the US president hinted that he could impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil.
Trump later repeated to reporters that Putin had disappointed him, but added: "I think we're making progress, step by step."
Asked about Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow continues to cooperate with Washington and that Putin remains open to contacts with Trump.
"We continue to work with the American side, primarily on building our bilateral relations, which were seriously damaged during the previous (American) administration," Peskov said.
"We are also working on implementing certain ideas regarding the resolution of the Ukrainian issue. That work is ongoing, but for now there are no specific details that we can or should share with you. It is a process that takes time, probably due to its complexity."
He added that a call between Trump and Putin could be arranged at short notice if necessary, although it is not scheduled for this Sunday.
Trump, who wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly stated that he wants an end to the three-year conflict in Ukraine and warned of the risks of it escalating into a world war between the US and Russia.
Trump's comments about Putin on Sunday reflected his growing frustration with the lack of progress toward a ceasefire. "If Russia and I are unable to come to an agreement to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I determine that Russia is to blame for it... I will be putting secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming from Russia," Trump said.
"That would mean that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," Trump said. "There would be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25 to 50 point tariff on all oil."
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Sunday that during a meeting with Trump in Florida on Saturday, he said it was necessary to set a deadline for establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine in order for it to actually happen.
"I got the impression that he was clearly the only person who could mediate in achieving peace, a ceasefire, because he was the only one that Putin feared and in a way respected," Stubb said in an interview with Sky News on Monday.
On the other hand, the foreign ministers of Ukraine's main European allies announced yesterday that they would double their aid to the country, while considering new sanctions on Russia to force it to accept a ceasefire.
In a joint declaration after a meeting in Madrid, the foreign ministers of Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Poland, as well as European Commission Vice President Kaia Kallas, called on Russia to immediately agree to an "unconditional ceasefire on equal terms and with full implementation."
They said they were ready to put additional pressure on Moscow, including imposing new sanctions, to ensure that Kiev is in the "best possible position to secure a just and lasting peace."
The countries also said they would increase military, political and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine's war effort, but did not provide further details.
The statement added that the seized Russian assets should remain frozen until Moscow ends the war and compensates Ukraine for the damage caused. Spain has for some time advocated using the assets as an alternative way to finance aid to Ukraine or even to strengthen its own defenses.
Before the meeting, Kalas called on Russia to show goodwill towards achieving a ceasefire through gestures such as returning Ukrainian children who had been deported to Russia or releasing prisoners of war. She also urged the US to put pressure on the Kremlin to end the three-year conflict.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that Russia owes the United States a clear answer to the question of whether it wants a peace agreement at all.
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