Russia is counting on US concessions. “He will not bow to threats”

Vladimir Putin realizes that Trump is his “best chance” at the end of the war and wants to proceed diplomatic action to accomplish this goal,” says the American agency.

The Kremlin expects US concessions, including the expected weakening of sanctions and the suspension of arms supply to Ukraine. Putin ensures that he wants to scope an agreement with Trump, but at the same time reiterates that the arrangements must take account of the solution to the "essential causes" of the conflict. Moscow, speaking of "essential reasons", has so far actually questioned the existence of an independent Ukrainian state.

According to Bloomberg's sources, the threat of secondary sanctions on Russian oil from the US president Donald Trump didn't impress the Kremlin.

“Russia will not bow to threats”

— The Kremlin hopes that it can lead to a face-to-face encounter between Putin and Trump, during which they will work out an agreement that will end the war in Ukraine for the time being — what Trump wants — in exchange for concessions that will make Ukraine permanently weakened,” said Aleksandr Gabujew of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

Russia has survived 3 years of sanctions and will not give way to threats due to the fact that the fresh restrictions will not be more effective, according to those acquainted with the moods in the Kremlin.

— These sanctions will not affect Russia as much as another countries that request our oil and gas," said Anatoly Aksakov of the Russian State Duma, the lower home of Parliament.

Trump acknowledged on 30 March on NBC tv that he was "excited" and "very angry" at Putin for his questioning the legitimacy of the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski. He besides threatened that if there was no truce due to Russia, he would introduce "secondary duty" on Russian oil. A fewer hours later, however, Trump said that he did not think the Russians were trying to deceive him and added that Putin "wants to make a deal."