RUSSIA READY FOR 'RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE' AFTER TRUMP TELLS PUTIN TO END UKRAINE WA

Russia has expressed its willingness to engage in "equal and respectful dialogue" with the United States, following Donald Trump's warning to Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is open to negotiations, but has yet to receive any signals from the US.¹

Trump's warning to Putin came in the form of a threat to impose taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on Russia if it fails to reach a deal to end its 35-month invasion of Ukraine. Trump took to his platform Truth Social to declare that Russia's economy is failing and that he has "no other choice" but to take action if a deal is not reached.

The Kremlin's response to Trump's warning has been mixed, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov expressing cautious optimism about the possibility of negotiations. Ryabkov noted that there is a "window of opportunity" for dialogue, albeit a small one.

Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed Trump's warning to Putin, hailing the US president as "decisive" and a "man of strength". Zelensky has also appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his influence to push Putin towards peace.

The situation remains volatile, with reports of continued fighting and civilian casualties in Ukraine. The international community is watching developments closely, with many calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In related news, the European Union has pledged €35 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine in 2025, with the funds to be provided through the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration credit initiative and the Ukraine Facility program.

NATO head Mark Rutte has also urged leaders to "step up, not scale back" support for Ukraine, ensuring Kyiv enters negotiations with Russia in a strong position. Rutte warned that a "bad deal" would have far-reaching consequences, including emboldening other aggressive nations.

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