LOS ANGELES (OC).–Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Russia reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if its homeland is threatened by the European Union or NATO. Peskov mentioned nothing about the United States who, under former President Joe Biden, became a mortal enemy of the Kremlin funding proxy war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin came to see the U.S. under Biden as trying to undermine his Kremlin regime. Biden actually said in 2022 that the aim of the U.S. mission in Ukraine was to degrade the Russian military to the point it could no longer wage war. Just when you thought that was a gaffe, Biden’s former defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the same thing in Ramstein, Germany a month later. Since taking office, President Donald Trump worked hard toward restoring U.S.-Russian relations, getting the U.S. off Putin’s enemy’s list.
Trump walks a fine line now trying to placate Neocons on Capitol Hill by authorizing NATO to supply Patriot Missiles to Ukraine;s 47-year-old President Volodymer Zelensky. Trump agreed to loosen restrictions on weapons transfers to Ukraine, knowing it might set back U.S.-Russian relations. But Trump wanted Putin to know that he wants to end the Ukraine War in short order and was disappointed he wasn’t on the same page. When it comes to slapping Moscow with more economic sanctions, Trump knows that he can only push Putin so far. So, when it comes to Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been threatening Putin with more economic sanctions if he doesn’t agree to 30-day ceasefire. Putin doesn’t see that Zelensky accepts any of his conditions for ending the Ukraine War.
Democrats and the fake news have had a field day with Trump agreeing to let NATO supply Ukraine more Patriot Missiles. Trump told Zelensky he doesn’t want any U.S. weapons used to strike inside the Russian Federation, hoping to preserve his relationship with Putin. Trump couldn’t understand why Putin would not want a 30-day ceasefire in order to work with Zelensky on an acceptable peace deal. But Zelensky has turned against Trump, gaslighting the EU the same way he did former President Joe Biden for three years. Zelensky talked Biden into giving him a blank check to battle the Kremlin, giving the Kiev government enough cash-and-arms to fund proxy war with the Kremlin. Putin saw the war as one between the U.S. and Russia, not primarily Ukraine. Now that Trump reset U.S.-Russian relations, Putin sees the EU has Russin’s new enemy.
Kremlin Spokesman Peskov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of warmongering, saying he was considering giving Ukraine German-made Taurus long-range missiles. Putin told Merz that if he supplied Zelensky with Taurus missiles he would consider Germany an enemy combatant. “Of course, it is very hard to predict anything amid such an emotional state, bordering on irrationality, which reigns on the European continent,” Peskov said to Russian news. Peskov doesn’t understand why the EU thinks that Putin would expand Russian territory into Europe. Zelenksy keeps insisting that Putin’s long-range plans are to move on from Ukraine and expand Russian territory in Europe. Merz seems to agree with Zelensky’s analysis, saying that Russia only respects military might, not diplomacy.
Peskov reminded the EU that Russia revised its nuclear first strike doctrine to include “inciting” non-nuclear states to take hostile action against Russia could trigger a first use. Trump warned Zelensky in the Oval Office Feb. 28 that he was playing with fire keeping the war going, potentially risking nuclear war in Europe. Zelensky dismisses any such claims, saying the Ukraine is already living in WW III, not sure how things could get much worse. But Trump knows that if Merz continues to spew hostile rhetoric toward the Kremlin it increases the chance of some mishap in the future. One miscalculation, one mistake by any EU state against Russia could trigger its first strike nuclear doctrine. Zelensky has kept the war going looking to the EU to subsidize his war with the Kremlin. Trump may approve NATO arms deliveries to Ukraine but he no longer supports proxy war.
Peskov said the EU should pressure Zelensky to go back to the peace table and find a realistic solution to end the Ukraine War. Putin put out his “memorandum” on conditions for a ceasefire and peace talks at the June 2 peace talks in Istanbul. Zelensky called Putin’s proposal “blackmail,” not taking seriously the necessity of ending the war. As long as the EU backs Zelensky’s position of not ceding land to Russia, the war continues at the peril of the European Continent. Where Zelensky got the idea he can wage war against the Kremlin without repercussions in anyone’s guess. Once you go to war, to the victor goes the vanquished. Trump told Zelensky Feb. 28 in the Oval Office he didn’t have the cards without the U.S. Zelensky ignored Trump. Macron, Merz and Starmer have done nothing to end the war, only provoke Putin into more defensive actions.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
