Moscow Applauds Trump’s Stance on Ending War, Accuses European Leaders of Escalation
Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday praised US President Donald Trump for his “common sense” approach towards ending the war in Ukraine but accused European nations of deliberately prolonging the conflict by continuing their support for Kyiv.
Lavrov acknowledged that while the United States remains focused on maintaining its global supremacy and fundamental differences persist between Washington and Moscow, both sides have shown a willingness to adopt pragmatic cooperation when necessary.
“The model of US-China relations should serve as an example for US-Russia ties,” Lavrov told the Russian military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, according to a transcript released by the Foreign Ministry. He emphasised that Moscow and Washington could achieve “mutually beneficial things” without allowing disagreements to escalate into confrontation.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, marking the most significant standoff between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. The West and Ukraine have denounced the invasion as an attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to seize Ukrainian territory. Despite sustained resistance, Russian forces currently control approximately one-fifth of Ukraine.
Putin has framed the conflict as an existential struggle against a declining and morally compromised West, which he accuses of betraying Russia by expanding NATO eastward and threatening Moscow’s sphere of influence, including Ukraine.
Trump’s Position on the War
Trump, who spoke with Putin on February 12 and has positioned himself as a potential “peacemaker,” has significantly altered Washington’s policy on the Ukraine conflict. Lavrov claimed that the call between Trump and Putin was initiated by the former US president.
On Friday, tensions surfaced between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an Oval Office meeting. Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, reportedly clashed with Zelensky over continued US military support for Kyiv.
European Response and Criticism
Lavrov accused European powers of playing a role in exacerbating the conflict by rallying behind Ukraine, suggesting that their actions were preventing a peaceful resolution. He reiterated that Russia’s stance remains unchanged: Moscow views Western involvement as a direct provocation aimed at undermining Russian security.
Trump’s Crypto Strategy Shakes Markets
In a separate development, Trump announced on Sunday the inclusion of five digital assets in a new US crypto strategic reserve, causing a sharp increase in their market values.
The president stated via social media that his January executive order on digital assets would establish a reserve containing Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA). Until Sunday, the specific cryptocurrencies had not been disclosed.
Following the announcement, these assets surged between 8% and 62% in trading. “The Presidential Working Group will move forward on a Crypto Strategic Reserve that includes XRP, SOL, and ADA. I will make sure the US is the Crypto Capital of the World,” Trump wrote in his post.
An hour later, he clarified, “And, obviously, BTC and ETH, as other valuable cryptocurrencies, will be at the heart of the Reserve.”
The move marks a significant shift in US digital asset policy, signalling greater institutional recognition of cryptocurrencies under Trump’s administration.
As geopolitical tensions persist, the evolving relationship between Russia, the US, and Europe continues to shape the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict and global economic policies.
