The Kremlin on Friday welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments characterizing Russia as “a war machine” that had historically defeated figures like Napoleon and Hitler. However, it stressed that it remains realistic about Trump and his potential impact on U.S.-Russia relations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to questions about Trump’s remarks, which were reportedly made during a July 19 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump later reiterated these points on Fox News, emphasizing the need to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“This is a war machine you’re facing. That’s what they (the Russians) do—they fight wars. They beat Hitler. They beat Napoleon. We got to get this war over with,” Trump said.
In response, Peskov acknowledged the historical accuracy of Trump’s statement: “It will probably be useful for most of the American audience to know that there are many glorious pages in the history of Russia. Indeed, probably few people in the U.S., we mean ordinary Americans, and maybe representatives of the so-called political establishment, know history in such depth.”
However, Peskov also addressed a commentary in the Wall Street Journal co-authored by Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State under Trump, which suggested that Trump should impose tougher sanctions on Moscow if elected and increase support for Ukraine. This commentary highlighted the complexities of U.S.-Russia relations, even under a Trump presidency.
“We have never worn and do not wear rose-colored spectacles. (Trump) is a representative of the U.S. political elite, which is now all absolutely suffering from total anti-Russian sentiment,” Peskov stated. He recalled that during Trump’s presidency, the U.S. initiated a “sanctions race” against Russia, with numerous sanctions imposed on the country.
“Maybe he shows a little more political wisdom in terms of maintaining channels of dialogue. But de facto, it does not have a special impact on anything, and we should be aware of that,” Peskov concluded, emphasizing that Russia remains cautious and realistic in its assessment of Trump and his potential policies.
