Still, the Kremlin will be only too happy if Ukrainian drone strikes on oil facilities spark fury in the White House and curtail US support for Kyiv.
Moscow would welcome Washington cutting off intelligence sharing to Ukraine and weapons sales to Europe that are destined for Kyiv.
It has already delighted to hear Trump declaring: “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a 60-day Russian ceasefire to allow for presidential elections in Ukraine.
Moscow’s reaction?
“The Kremlin, the president, has said many times before, we don’t want a ceasefire, we want a lasting peace, and we’re willing to do whatever’s possible for that,” Peskov said.
“Whatever’s possible” does not include a 60-day ceasefire, or a 30-day ceasefire, or anything close to that.
On Monday, the Kremlin proposed a one-day cessation of hostilities for Ukraine to hold elections.
That will not be seen in Ukraine, or in the West, as a serious offer.
It comes as no surprise though.
Putin has shown little desire to halt the fighting.
Recent statements, speeches and signals from Russia’s leader suggest that, with winter approaching, the Kremlin is counting on a continued campaign of Russian strikes to significantly increase the pressure on Ukraine.
On Monday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine does not deserve the “respite” a ceasefire would bring.
The Kremlin has claimed to seek “lasting peace” but right now it is continuing the fighting.
On Monday, Zelensky claimed that Russia had hit several energy targets across Ukraine during the night and into the morning.
“This window of opportunity should be used to knock Ukraine back to the Stone Age and force it to accept peace on Russia’s terms,” the pro-government Moskovsky Komsomolets has written.
The Kremlin’s objective hasn’t changed: Ukraine’s capitulation.
Moscow seems to believe that the diesel deal with Trump and the US president’s growing impatience with Zelensky will help Russia secure its goal.
