Kremlin responds to Trump’s threat over Ukraine deal

The Kremlin has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s threats of sanctions and tariffs over a Ukraine peace deal, calling the tactics “nothing new.” Trump issued a thinly-veiled ultimatum to Moscow on Wednesday by calling on it to end the Ukraine conflict and strike a “deal” or to face new sanctions instead.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Russia remains open to “equal and respectful dialogue” with the United States, adding that, during his first term in office, Trump had engaged in this kind of exchange with President Vladimir Putin. Now, Russia is waiting for similar signals but has not seen any so far, according to the spokesman.

“Trump in his first term was the US president most frequently resorting to sanctions. He likes this method,” Peskov added.