ALBAWABA - U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he will make a “major announcement” regarding Russia on Monday, a declaration that has caught the attention of the Kremlin amid mounting uncertainty surrounding efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Russian presidency confirmed it is closely monitoring Trump’s comments. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the continued U.S. supply of weapons to Ukraine through NATO, labeling it a "commercial operation" that ultimately sustains the conflict. Peskov also accused European nations of pushing Ukraine to prolong the war "until the last Ukrainian," adding that Moscow is closely tracking the nuances in Trump’s rhetoric.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov voiced skepticism about improving U.S.-Russia ties, describing the Trump administration’s approach as inconsistent.
Trump, speaking in a Thursday interview with NBC, did not reveal the content of Monday’s statement but said he is frustrated with Russia. The announcement comes as the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalates and diplomatic negotiations stall.
While campaigning, Trump pledged to end the war within 24 hours if re-elected—a promise he has not yet fulfilled. Experts suggest he may now choose between arming Ukraine via NATO, imposing stricter sanctions on Moscow, withdrawing U.S. involvement, or pursuing new diplomatic channels.
Trump also revealed that the U.S. will sell weapons, including Patriot missiles, to NATO for delivery to Ukraine, an arrangement discussed during the June NATO summit in The Hague. Earlier this month, his administration briefly paused arms shipments before reversing course.
On Capitol Hill, Trump is reviewing a proposed bill by Senator Lindsey Graham that would levy new sanctions on countries purchasing Russian energy products, including oil and uranium.
Diplomatic signals remain mixed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. Rubio confirmed the exchange of “new ideas” to end the war, calling it a "different and fresh approach," though he provided no further details.
