Russia backs Trump remarks that Zelenskyy holding up Ukraine peace deal

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia agreed with US President Donald Trump that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, not Russia, who was holding up a potential peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump's assessment contrasted to that of European allies, who have consistently argued that Moscow has little interest in ending the fighting and wants to take as much territory as it can while seeking to stave off further Western sanctions.

"I think he's ready to make a deal," Trump said of Putin when speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday. "I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal."

Asked why US-led negotiations had not yet resolved Europe's largest land conflict since World War Two, Trump responded: "Zelenskyy."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked that he concurred with Trump: "I agree, that is indeed the case. President Putin and the Russian side remain open (to talks). The Russian position is well known. It is well known to the American negotiators, to President Trump, and to the leadership of the Kyiv regime."

Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Moscow wants Kyiv to withdraw its troops from parts of the Donetsk region that Russia does not control but has claimed as its own. 

Ukraine - which has rejected the idea of gifting territory to Moscow - wants the fighting halted along the current front lines. The US has proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine pulls its troops back.

US-led negotiations have been centered in recent weeks on security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine after a potential peace deal, though some European officials have cautioned Putin is highly unlikely to accept some of the terms.

Russia considers it unacceptable for Western powers to deploy forces under a possible future peace deal for Ukraine and any such soldiers would be considered by Moscow to be legitimate targets, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Western powers such as Britain knew perfectly well that the deployment of such forces was unacceptable to Russia but had insisted on it in draft peace proposals in a bid to undermine the process.

"Well aware of the unacceptability of such a scenario for Russia, the British are using it as another tool to undermine the peace process," Zakharova told reporters.

"Any foreign troops in Ukraine will be considered as legitimate targets for the Russian armed forces. The British component will be no exception."

The talks have been further set back after Russia accused Ukraine last month of trying to attack a residence of Putin, an allegation Kyiv called a lie.

Peskov said that Moscow would welcome Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to the Kremlin for additional talks on Ukraine once a date for a visit had been agreed upon.

State of emergency

Zelenskyy said on Wednesday he would declare a state of emergency in the energy sector to make up for lost time and tackle issues of disrupted power supplies following sustained Russian attacks on infrastructure.

Zelenskyy acted as emergency crews proceeded with round-the-clock efforts to restore power and heating supplies thrown into disarray, particularly in Kyiv, by a Russian attack last week.

Repairs to thousands of apartment blocks have been compounded by frigid weather, with night-time temperatures dipping close to -20 Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit).

"The consequences of Russian strikes and deteriorating weather conditions are severe," Zelenskyy wrote in English on the X social media platform.

"Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine's energy sector ... Many issues require urgent resolution."