Moscow's Mixed Signals on Trump's Peacemaking

While US President Donald Trump is achieving diplomatic successes in the Middle East, sharply contradictory assessments of his actions are being voiced from Moscow. Two key figures in Russian foreign policy, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, have made statements that show the Kremlin's dual approach to Washington: on the one hand, cautious praise on the Gaza issue, and on the other, a direct threat related to Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev reacted more harshly, referring to Trump's possible intention to supply "Tomahawk" missiles to Ukraine. He described this step as a threat that could "end badly for everyone, and most of all for Trump himself." Medvedev clarified that it is impossible for the Russian side to distinguish between the conventional and nuclear-warhead versions of the "Tomahawk" during its flight. Therefore, the launch of any such missile could be perceived as a nuclear attack, which would lead to a corresponding response. "The launch of these missiles will be carried out not by Bandera's Kyiv, but by the US itself. That is, by Trump. And how should Russia respond? That's the thing," he wrote, expressing hope that this is just an "empty threat, conditioned by long negotiations with the clown (referring to Zelenskyy)."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke in a completely different tone, referring to the settlement of the Gaza conflict. He considered the option proposed by Trump to be the "best" under the current conditions. At the same time, Lavrov stressed that this agreement does not solve the core issue of the Palestinian problem. Despite this reservation, the head of Russian diplomacy assessed the process positively, adding that Russia "sincerely wishes that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit on Gaza be crowned with success."