WP: Kremlin sees Trump's turn against Zelensky as a win for Moscow

Moscow reads Washington's delay in approving Patriot missiles and Trump's harsh words about Zelensky as signs that Western support for Ukraine is weakening, The Washington Post reports. The Kremlin views political turmoil in Europe as further confirmation.

The Kremlin sees the Trump administration's latest turn against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a major success. Combined with political turmoil in Europe, Moscow reads it as a sign that Western support for Ukraine is at last beginning to crumble, The Washington Post reported. According to the newspaper, Russian officials view Trump's recent steps as moves toward a rapprochement between Russia and the United States.

Patriots, diesel and words about Zelensky

Several developments in recent weeks lie behind that assessment. US officials confirmed on Monday that the administration has still not approved the transfer to Ukraine of interceptor missiles from partner countries, which Kyiv needs against Russian missile and drone attacks. The Wall Street Journal reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not formally turned down Kyiv's request for Patriot systems but has not completed the steps needed to approve it either.

Trump himself told reporters that "maybe it's time for Zelenskyy to get somebody else to negotiate," pointing to Ukraine's heavy losses. On Oct. 9, the US president announced an agreement with Russia on supplies of hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel and temporarily suspended sanctions. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev later said economic dialogue between Moscow and Washington and peace efforts would continue despite the displeasure of other countries.

Turmoil in Europe

Putin with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin (file, September 2026)

The second factor Moscow is watching is the wave of protests and riots that has swept France, Italy and Albania. Trump said on Tuesday that Europe could face serious upheaval if it does not solve its migration problem, citing the recent protests in France. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called accusations linking Russia to the unrest "absurd," and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova advised Europeans to deal with their own problems.

Peskov: Kyiv cannot be left out

The Kremlin nonetheless stresses that Kyiv cannot be cut out of the process entirely. "Of course, it is impossible to fully settle the Ukrainian problem without someone from Kyiv being present," Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. He said Moscow highly values the mediation of US negotiators, but a final settlement requires someone from Kyiv willing to take responsibility.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting US special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg, a day after Witkoff discussed peace proposals with Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo.

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WP: Kremlin sees Trump's turn against Zelensky as a win for Moscow