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By Isabel van Brugen
News Reporter
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A Russian state TV host has celebrated Donald Trump's recent remarks, in which he stated that he was reluctant to impose additional financial pressure on Russia because he wants a peace deal with Ukraine.
Kremlin propagandist Olga Skabeyeva called Trump a "generous man" on Russian state TV show "60 Minutes," which she hosts.
Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.
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Why It Matters
The delight of Russian propagandists may suggest that they feel the Trump administration is helping to serve Russia's interests. The Kremlin has said Trump's arrival marks a shift in bilateral relations between Washington and Moscow amid the war in Ukraine.
What To Know
A clip of Skabeyeva's remarks on state TV was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Julia Davis, the founder of the Russia Media Monitor watchdog group.
"Meanwhile in Russia: state TV host Olga Skabeeva insisted that Russia has no reason to agree to a ceasefire and rejoiced about Trump's assertions that he sees no need to apply any pressure or impose additional sanctions against Russia," Davis wrote.
On the show Skabeyeva began by saying Trump "said that he hopes he won't have to put pressure on Russia within the framework of seeking a Ukrainian resolution."
She was referring to Trump's comment to reporters on Wednesday that he "can do things financially, that would be very bad for Russia."
"I don't want to do that because I want to get peace," he added.
Trump previously threatened to hit Russia with "large-scale sanctions" and tariffs if his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire and peace deal.
"Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now," he said last week..
Skabeyeva praised Trump for his latest remarks, calling him a "very generous man."
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"The U.S. position has changed to normalcy with Trump's arrival to the White House from the standpoint of values," the state TV host said.
Ukraine has agreed to support a Washington-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war.
It's unclear how Russia will respond, however, during an interview on state TV on Thursday, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin, said he was wary of the notion of a temporary ceasefire. He said he told Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz that he considers it to be "nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more."
"We believe that our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement, we strive for this, a peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country, our well-known concerns," Ushakov said, according to Russian state-run news agency Interfax.
"It seems to me that no one needs any steps that imitate peaceful actions in this situation," he added, noting that he was giving his "personal position" on the matter, not Putin's.
Skabeyeva said the "main concern for everyone who is rooting for our country is that at the very moment when we are succeeding and Ukraine's Armed Forces are obviously failing, why would we want to agree to a cease-fire?"
"This is a key question. On which conditions? Are you giving us the four regions?" Skabeyeva said, referring to the regions of Ukraine which Russia proclaimed to have annexed in the fall of 2022 following elections that have been deemed by the international community as illegal.
"That's one thing. If you aren't giving them, that's another conversation. If they get neutral status, that's a third conversation," she added.
What People Are Saying
**White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "**We urge the Russians to sign on to this plan. This is the closest we have been to peace in this war."
What Happens Next
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff landed in Moscow on Thursday morning for talks on Ukraine. It's unclear whether he will be meeting with Putin.
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