Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov assured us that the Russians were ready for discussions. During the Friday ceremony confirming Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior,

Russia has responded to the United States President, Donald Trump's warning that he will impose tariffs and sanctions if Moscow does not "make a deal"

In his first major remarks on Ukraine after re-entering the White House, the US president urged Putin to “settle now and stop this ridiculous war” or face intensified sanctions, taxes and tariffs, adding: “We can do it the easy way, or the hard way.”

Kremlin indicates it sees nothing new in President Trump’s threat to hit Russia with new sanctions and tariffs

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed out that the Kremlin is signalling efforts to pressure former US President Donald Trump into conceding to Vladimir Putin’s demands while attempting to elevate Putin’s status as Trump’s equal in global affairs.