Kremlin Relishes Trump-Zelensky Rift While Questioning US President’s Unpredictability
Moscow welcomes the growing tension between Kyiv and Washington but warns that Donald Trump’s erratic behavior limits any strategic gain for Russia.
Moscow has welcomed the escalating friction between Kyiv and its key Western supporter, the United States, while simultaneously cautioning that President Donald Trump’s capricious actions undermine any clear advantage for Russia. Kremlin insiders note that Trump’s repeated attacks on Volodymyr Zelensky and his suggestion that Ukraine needs a new president have strained the alliance. Former Russian president Dmitrij Medveděv, now a deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, and chief negotiator Kirill Dmitrijev have both underscored that recent temporary suspensions of oil sanctions and limited fuel-export volumes offer only marginal benefits.
Russian commentators such as Sergej Mironov view the Trump-Zelensky split as a domestic political ploy ahead of US congressional elections, while Sergej Poletajev urges patience, saying Russia must recognize the evolving reality without expecting instant gains. The article also mentions Kyiv’s complaints about reduced US intelligence sharing and limited Starshield satellite support, adding further complexity to the conflict’s diplomatic landscape.
Why it matters
US political discord could reshape sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Russia and Ukraine.
How this story developed
- Oct 5 Russia’s intensified winter attacks threaten Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and morale
- Oct 18 Volodymyr Zelenskyj said that US authorities had ordered a brief suspension of Starlink for Ukraine’s military, which has since been lifted.
- Oct 18 Zelensky warned that any formal U.S. alignment with Vladimir Putin would be a historic mistake.
- Oct 18 Ukraine struck a refinery in Saint Petersburg, prompting renewed U.S. criticism of Kyiv’s energy attacks.
- Oct 18 Trump offered extra Patriot missiles if Ukraine ceases refinery attacks.
- Oct 18 Zelensky said he had a call with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner amid the new crisis between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump, who recently exempted Russia from new sanctions.
- Oct 19 The United States continues to review the feasibility of a trilateral summit with Putin and Trump.
- Oct 19 Trump signed an executive order pausing broad sanctions on Russia, including a temporary diesel waiver.
- Oct 19 Trump suspended a sanctions package on Russia, lifted a restriction on Russian diesel exports, and blamed Zelenskyy for prolonging the war.
- Oct 19 Trump imposed a speed limitation on Starshield and announced a three‑month diesel sanctions waiver.
- Oct 20 Trump signed a waiver temporarily lifting most sanctions on Russia.
- Oct 20 Zelenskyy says the Pentagon is delaying delivery of European-funded interceptor missiles, while Trump proposes a summit that would exclude Kyiv.
- Oct 20 Patriot missile shipment remains pending a Defense Secretary signature.
- Oct 20 Trump promoted a China summit with Putin and Xi that would not include Zelenskyy.
In this story
Related stories
17 in this thread