The Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. decision to pause all aid to Ukraine, calling it a "good decision," according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"The details remain to be seen, but if this is true, it could push the 'Kyiv regime' towards a peace process," Peskov stated. Russia has been clear about its conditions for peace talks, which include the recognition of Crimea and four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—as Russian territory, despite not having full control over them.
The move follows an order from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suspended all military aid to Ukraine on March 4. The directive reportedly took immediate effect, impacting over $1 billion in weapons and ammunition shipments.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Russia's state-run Direct Investment Fund and a key intermediary between the Kremlin and the White House, reacted by posting "Major!" on social media. Dmitriev was among the Russian officials involved in the February 18 U.S.-Russia negotiations in Riyadh.
This decision aligns with a series of Kremlin-friendly steps by the Trump administration, which has also been considering lifting sanctions imposed on Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
Trump has also escalated his criticism of Ukraine and its leadership, a stance that has been widely celebrated by Russian officials and propagandists. Russian state media and political figures have expressed support for Trump after he and Vice President J.D. Vance harshly confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an Oval Office meeting.
Peskov acknowledged the shift in U.S. policy, stating that it "largely aligns" with Russia's interests.
'Firewall is abolished'
Since Trump began speaking favorably about Russia and echoing Kremlin talking points, Russian state media rhetoric has notably shifted. Previously, Russian television frequently threatened the U.S. with nuclear strikes; now, coverage has become increasingly positive toward Washington, while remaining hostile toward Ukraine.
"The firewall between the U.S. and Russia is abolished. A new America is beginning to reestablish relations with Russia. A new alliance between two great powers with similar anti-globalist and illiberal ideologies is possible, though not guaranteed," wrote ultranationalist Alexander Dugin, a vocal supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He made these remarks before Zelensky's February 28 meeting with Trump.
Russian officials and propagandists also praised the U.S. vote against a Ukrainian resolution at the U.N. General Assembly, which condemned Russia as an aggressor state. Additionally, they supported Trump's controversial political appointments and amplified false claims about Zelensky's legitimacy—claims that have been picked up by certain circles in Washington.
Prominent Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov has repeatedly referred to Zelensky as a "former Ukrainian president, recognized as illegitimate."
"We were waiting for Trump not because he is pro-Russian, but because he is pro-American," Solovyov said.
Peskov welcomed this shift in U.S. policy, stating on February 26 that such a development was "impossible to imagine" and that restoring relations between the two nations would be a "long journey."
Trump’s Russian Backers
The change in Russian sentiment became particularly evident after Trump's heated exchange with Zelensky at the White House. Following the incident, Russian officials and propagandists quickly rallied behind Trump while intensifying their criticism of Zelensky and Europe.
Solovyov claimed that Zelensky was "chastised for rudeness" and had "disgraced himself." Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev praised Trump for "telling the truth," calling the confrontation "a vivid reprimand" delivered to an "ungrateful" Zelensky. Medvedev echoed Trump’s assertion that Ukraine was "gambling with World War III" and argued that military aid to Kyiv should be halted—a decision that materialized just three days later.
Currently serving as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, Medvedev has made numerous inflammatory statements on social media and has openly questioned Ukraine's right to exist as an independent nation.
Overall, Trump is enjoying a surge of support in Russia, where he is seen as a leader who could pressure Ukraine into accepting a settlement favorable to the Kremlin.
"Whoever in the U.S. attacks Putin and Russia today is also attacking Donald Trump," Dugin wrote.
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