Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Moscow regards the U.S. belief that deep Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory could hasten an end to the conflict as incorrect. Peskov framed this stance as a misconception on the part of the White House, commenting directly after U.S. remarks suggesting that strikes on Russian refineries might assist in bringing the war to a close.
Peskov said that the deployment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine would amount to NATO operating inside the country - an outcome he said runs counter to the objective of Russia's military operation. That characterization links any formal no-fly enforcement to direct NATO involvement, according to the Kremlin spokesman.
Addressing what he described as a certain dualism in the American position, Peskov noted that Washington sometimes errs, yet continues to voice support for finding a peaceful solution. He presented that tension as part of the U.S. posture toward the conflict without expanding on how Moscow expects that posture to change.
On the question of a U.S. license permitting Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles, Peskov said the information was new to Moscow. He added that Russia does not look at U.S. weapons supplies to Ukraine through "rose-tinted glasses," signaling a cautious or skeptical stance toward the implications of further American support.
Peskov concluded by saying that President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump maintain a constructive dialogue despite holding some disagreements. He did not provide additional detail on the content or timing of those discussions in his remarks to reporters.
Contextual notes
- The Kremlin spokesman's comments responded to prior U.S. statements endorsing the idea that Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure, including refineries, could help end the war.
- Peskov explicitly linked a no-fly zone to NATO operational activity within Ukraine.
- He described the news of a U.S. license for Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles as unexpected for Moscow and emphasized Russia's skeptical view of U.S. weapons shipments.