Kremlin says Trump didn't seek ceasefire in Putin call
2026-03-10 - 12:52
Russian officials revealed Tuesday that Monday's telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump did not include any American request for a ceasefire in Ukraine, contrary to some reports suggesting Washington sought a pause in fighting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Trump also failed to propose a new date for trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, leaving the diplomatic track without a clear timeline. "President Putin highly appreciates these mediation efforts; we are grateful for this and are interested in this process continuing," Peskov stated, emphasizing Moscow's willingness to engage with American mediation despite the lack of concrete progress. He dismissed suggestions that Trump had attached conditions regarding a ceasefire to any potential resolution, saying, "Such conditions were not set. This has already been stated repeatedly. All the modalities related to a ceasefire are already well understood." Oil sanctions and energy market stability Regarding potential relief from US sanctions on Russian oil exports, Peskov indicated the matter received minimal attention during the leaders' discussion. "It was not discussed in detail," he explained, adding that existing American restrictions on Russian energy are primarily connected to broader efforts to stabilize global markets amid Persian Gulf tensions. The spokesman acknowledged that "everyone is interested in a swift ceasefire," while noting that the principal outcome of the call was mutual agreement on continuing the trilateral format, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff maintaining constant communication with Russian representatives. Russia's position on Iran conflict Peskov also addressed the escalating confrontation between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition, confirming that Moscow has maintained various proposals for de-escalation since before hostilities commenced. While stopping short of declaring Putin a formal mediator, he stated that multiple Russian initiatives for reducing tensions "remain on the table" and that Moscow stands ready "to the best of its ability" to help resolve the conflict. The spokesman declined to comment on media reports regarding alleged Russian intelligence transfers to Tehran, urging patience as diplomatic efforts continue. The statements come against the backdrop of intense regional warfare that began Feb. 28 when US and Israeli forces launched large-scale attacks on Iran, resulting in approximately 1,300 deaths including that of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military assets, developments closely monitored by Türkiye given its strategic position between these conflict zones.