Putin Gets Trump’s Support Against Kyiv Strikes? Kremlin Turns Up Pressure on Zelensky

Donald Trump has called on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel and civilian infrastructure—a message immediately welcomed by the Kremlin. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said any call to stop attacks on civilian infrastructure was welcome. He then urged other countries to use their influence on Kyiv to push the Ukrainian government towards “greater flexibility” in negotiations. Peskov also said Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping had expressed readiness to contribute to a Ukraine settlement during their meetings with Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. The Kremlin’s response places Trump, Modi and Xi inside the same diplomatic calculation: increasing external pressure on Zelenskyy as Moscow seeks concessions from Kyiv.