Russia welcomes suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Kiev insists: "None of us wants an endless war"

"It is probably the best contribution to peace." This is how Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assessed the decision by the Trump administration to cancel all military aid to Ukraine.

"It remains to see the details, but if it is true, it is a solution that can really push the Kiev regime into a peace process," Peskov assured during a press conference as soon as the first details of the temporary suspension were known.

"We have to see how the situation will evolve on the ground," the Russian spokesman said, adding that "the main volume" of military aid for the Ukrainian forces came from the United States.

Peskov also referred to the rapprochement between Washington and Moscow, assuring that for it to take its course, economic sanctions should be removed: "If we talk about normalization of bilateral relations, they should be free of the negative ballast of sanctions."

Just days ago Russia announced a new ambassador to the United States, a position that had been vacant for a year. Delegations from both countries met twice and promised to meet again at least a third time, and there was even dialogue about a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Days earlier, the Kremlin also assured that the changes in Washington's foreign policy were aligned with the agenda of Vladimir Putin's government, so it celebrated the direction taken by the Trump administration in its first two months.

Zelensky willing to ‘work under President Trump’s strong leadership’

Kiev assured on Tuesday that it was "absolutely determined" to continue its cooperation with the White House to obtain security guarantees to seal a peace agreement, despite Trump's decision to cancel military aid.

The Ukrainian position was advanced by Prime Minister Denis Shmigal, who also asserted at a press conference that they were ready to start working "at any time" on signing the mineral agreement desired by the United States.

Hours later, Zelensky himself backed Shmigal's words, assuring that he was ready to "come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer." "Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians," he assured. "My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."

About his tense meeting with Trump, the Ukrainian leader said that it "did not go the way it was supposed to be." After regretting what happened and thanking for the support received by the United States and the Republican, he stated that he was ready to initial the mineral agreement "in any time and in any convenient format." The deal’s signature was interrupted by disagreements during that summit, especially regarding security guarantees.

"We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively," the president said, retorting an argument by Trump in favor of the U.S.-Ukraine economic pact.

Zelensky also suggested what the first stages of a truce might be: the release of prisoners of war and a cessation of hostilities in the skies, a "ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure." After that, if Russia follows suit, peace at sea could follow. "Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal."