Russia’s Ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, has downplayed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks expressing disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. In an interview with Channel 4, Kelin dismissed the idea that Russia should respond to every statement made by Trump, calling his comments “controversial” and noting that Moscow is focused on what he described as a “serious operation” in Ukraine.
Addressing the broader conflict, Kelin emphasized that Ukraine remains a core strategic issue for Russia. “This is a fundamental matter for us, something we needed to resolve permanently,” he said. He added that the war is not directly related to European security or NATO, but stems from unresolved tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump, speaking at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week, had criticized Putin for failing to prevent the war and for the heavy losses suffered by Russian forces. “He’s let me down,” Trump said, claiming that Russian casualties have surpassed those of Ukraine and reiterating his long-held belief that the war would not have broken out had he remained in office.
Trump also referenced a previous summit with Putin in Alaska, where he said he had pushed for peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite those efforts, no agreement was reached.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict, which began in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in the Donbas region, escalated into a full-scale war in early 2022. The fighting continues with no clear resolution in sight.
