"Moscow views this negatively. It is yet another evidence that NATO is not interested in peace," Grushko told reporters.
US President Donald Trump announced a plan on Monday to provide Ukraine with additional military aid, including Patriot air defense missiles. The initiative involves European NATO allies purchasing billions of dollars’ worth of US military equipment, including Patriots, for transfer to Ukraine. Trump stressed that the US would manufacture these weapons, with European nations covering 100% of the cost.
The Russian official slammed NATO for trying to prolong the conflict in Ukraine to weaken Russia.
"Yesterday, they talked a lot about how Russia supposedly doesn’t want peace, about the level of Russia’s delegation [at talks with Ukraine], and about supposed time frames for reaching a deal. But no one mentioned that any deal requires negotiations – and there are none, because Ukraine refuses to engage. This is further proves that NATO countries are in fact interested in prolonging the conflict for as long as possible in order to exhaust Russia," Grushko said.
The official criticised US President Donald Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Russia, calling it "very strange." He noted the absence of any Western pressure on Ukraine to resume the stalled talks with Moscow.
On Monday, Trump said that Washington would impose 100% tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil if no deal on the Ukraine conflict is reached within the next 50 days.