Trump says the war could end "soon", although he is simultaneously promoting the idea of nuclear tests and the modernization of the US arsenal. The Kremlin, in turn, is demonstrating increased activity - from a fictional story about British agents to statements about "negotiations with Washington". American sanctions are forcing Lukoil to urgently rebuild its business model and exit international markets.
Trump says the Russian war against Ukraine could end soon
US President Donald Trump, in an interview with GB News called Russia's war against Ukraine a "bloody massacre" and stressed that it must end "as soon as possible". He repeated his statements that he had allegedly "settled eight wars" and this is the last one that he plans to "end". Trump stressed that the scale of the current aggression is the largest since World War II, which, according to him, makes it necessary to increase American pressure on the Russian Federation. The president claims that the United States influences Russia through India and the oil market, and also claims that a number of states are gradually reducing cooperation with Moscow.
In his answers to journalists, Trump expressed his belief that the end of the war is possible "soon", although he did not detail the conditions or mechanism for such a settlement. He emphasized that Russia receives significant profits from the sale of oil, which allows it to continue fighting. Trump said that the United States is doing "everything possible" to limit these resources, act on the diplomatic front and maintain influence over partners. At the same time, he called the start of the war "a disgrace", but did not specify how he plans to achieve its cessation.
Trump announced plans for US nuclear tests
President Donald Trump has announced the intention of the United States to conduct nuclear tests "fairly soon", referring to the activity of other nuclear powers. He explained that the modernization of the American arsenal was a necessary step, since Russia and China are already conducting their own developments. Trump emphasized that the United States, in his opinion, remains the “number one nuclear power,” while Russia is second, and China could catch up with Washington within a few years. The president emphasized that his administration has significantly increased investments in nuclear potential.
At the same time, Trump declared his readiness to initiate trilateral negotiations between the United States, Russia and China on reducing nuclear arsenals. He called such a dialogue “a wonderful thing” and emphasized the importance of global denuclearization. The president replied to journalists that the timing of the American tests was “quite soon,” without providing additional details. His statement caused discussion, because nuclear tests can not only violate international agreements, but also affect the global balance of deterrence.
Kremlin says US, Russia in “active” talks on Ukraine
Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov said, that Moscow is in “active talks” with Washington on resolving the war in Ukraine. He said the basis for the talks is the agreements reached during Putin’s and Trump’s meeting in Anchorage, although the parties did not sign any agreements at the time. According to Ushakov, the content of the “Anchorage developments” has already been conveyed to Kyiv, although the Ukrainian side has reportedly expressed disagreement. The Kremlin also claims that European states do not support this format because they “do not want a peaceful settlement.”
Ushakov noted that the US has not officially announced the cancellation of the agreements, although there have been conflicting comments in the public space. He added that Moscow is receiving “different signals” from the US side, but considers Anchorage to be the base for potential talks. The Russian representative said that the discussions are ongoing, despite the failure of attempts to organize a new meeting between Putin and Trump. At the same time, he referred to Western media reports that allegedly wrote about the readiness of the United States to recognize the occupation of Crimea, although the American administration officially denies this.
The United States extended the deadline for Lukoil to sell international assets
The US Treasury Department has extended the validity of licenses that allow Lukoil to complete transactions to sell international assets before the imposition of full sanctions. According to Bloomberg, the company was given the opportunity to conduct transactions until December 13, and individual transactions involving Bulgarian units are allowed until April 29. The publication's sources note that in recent days there has been an increase in interest from potential buyers from the United States, Europe and the Persian Gulf. Among the options being considered is a model in which one large investor would purchase the main assets, and the rest would be divided between several companies.
Lukoil is one of the most globally diversified Russian oil companies, with assets in Europe, Iraq, Kazakhstan and an extensive network of gas stations in the US, Belgium and Romania. US sanctions effectively block the company's operations in key markets, so selling assets has become the only way to minimize risks. The extension of the license terms creates a "window of opportunity" for Lukoil to exit international markets in a controlled manner. It also avoids a sharp collapse in asset prices and a chaotic sell-off that could affect EU energy markets.
Britain has become Russia's main enemy in Kremlin rhetoric - The Guardian
The UK has effectively replaced the US as Russia's "main adversary", which is clearly visible in the Kremlin's new accusations. This was reported by The GuardianA new story has been added to the already traditional fabrications about “undermining Nord Stream”, “leading raids” and “UAV strikes on Russian airfields”: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that British intelligence allegedly tried to force a Russian pilot to defect to the West. According to him, this serviceman, who was flying a plane with a Kinzhal missile, was supposed to be lured to Romania, where he would be “shot down by NATO forces”. Lavrov claims that the “FSB exposed” this fabricated plot, voicing it at a meeting with journalists in Moscow.
As the publication notes, the new aggressive rhetoric towards London has emerged against the backdrop of the Kremlin’s desire to establish contacts with the Donald Trump administration. Since Russia “cannot criticize Trump directly”, the British have been conveniently designated as the new main culprit for all problems – from failures on the front to the domestic crisis. Former British military attaché in Moscow, John Foreman, noted that Russia is willing to make London “the root of its troubles,” as the historical rivalry between the two countries dates back to the 19th century. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service even stated that “London is the main instigator of the world war,” and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has lowered the level of bilateral relations to a historic low.
Author: Danylo Pievchev