Kremlin: US arms sales to Ukraine are “just business”

The United States continues to supply weapons to Ukraine but the financial burden will now fall on European countries, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on July 16.

Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s decision to sell weapons to NATO for further delivery to Ukraine, Peskov described the move as a continuation of existing policies under a new financial arrangement, Caliber.Az reports via TASS.

“It’s business. The supplies were happening before. No one ever stopped them. The only question is who’s paying. Now, some Europeans will be footing the bill,” Peskov told reporters.

He also addressed the Kremlin’s position on diplomatic efforts, calling for renewed direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. When asked by a TASS journalist whether Russia should request support from international partners to facilitate talks, Peskov emphasised that such appeals were already being made.

“We are urging everyone to do this. In this case, the main mediating efforts are being made by the United States—President [Donald] Trump and his team,” he said. “There have been many statements, many words of disappointment, but we, of course, hope that at the same time pressure is being exerted on the Ukrainian side.”

Peskov criticised Kyiv’s interpretation of Western support, saying it was encouraging continued hostilities rather than peace.

“Right now it seems that all expressions of support are being interpreted by the Ukrainian side not as a signal for peace, but as a signal for war, for the continuation of the war,” he added.

The second round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations took place in early June. The two sides exchanged draft memorandums on a potential peaceful settlement. They also agreed to a humanitarian gesture involving the exchange of severely wounded prisoners of war and the return of the bodies of the deceased. 

By Sabina Mammadli