Kremlin pushes back after Trump warns Putin is "playing with fire" over Ukraine

The Kremlin has dismissed criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that Vladimir Putin is "playing with fire" by avoiding ceasefire talks with Ukraine, saying Russia's national interests remain the top priority.

The Kremlin has pushed back against remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Ukraine.

Trump, who has pledged to quickly end the war if re-elected, has taken a tougher stance on Moscow in recent days. In a post on Truth Social Tuesday, he wrote: "What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened in Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire."

Responding to the statement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s administration has made “serious efforts” toward peace and that Russia values his personal mediation. However, Peskov emphasized that Russia's decisions are driven by its own priorities.

“Just like the United States, Russia puts its national interests first,” he told reporters. “These interests are central to our president’s decisions. We continue to prepare for further negotiations with Ukraine and maintain contact with the Americans.”

Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy aide to Putin, said Trump's warning suggests he may not be fully informed about the realities of the conflict. “It seems President Trump lacks accurate information about what’s really happening, including the rise in Ukrainian attacks on Russian cities,” Ushakov told Russian state media.

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