Russian state-controlled media have deliberately omitted U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an independent Russian investigative outlet. The news site Agentstvo reported that Kremlin-backed media channels, including Russia-1, Tass, and RIA Novosti, have “censored” Trump by failing to report that he has publicly condemned Putin’s recent military actions in Ukraine.
Relations between Washington and Moscow had shown signs of improvement since Trump took office in January, but tensions have spiked in recent days. As Trump attempts to broker peace talks to end the ongoing war, his frustrations with Moscow have come into sharper focus.
More: Labour Frontbencher Drops Bombshell Warning About Uncertain US-UK Trade Deal
More: Melania and Donald Trump Share Awkward ‘Air Kiss’ Before Mysterious Split After Pope’s Funeral
Last week, after Russian forces launched a deadly attack on Kyiv, killing at least 12 people, Trump publicly urged Putin to cease hostilities. Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Additionally, the Trump administration warned that diplomatic efforts could be abandoned if both Russia and Ukraine do not accept a Washington-brokered peace proposal soon, reported Newsweek.
Despite these strong remarks, Russian state outlets chose not to broadcast Trump’s criticism of Putin. Instead, shows like Vesti Nedeli selectively quoted Trump’s social media posts, highlighting only his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump had criticized Zelensky on April 23, after the Ukrainian leader reaffirmed that Kyiv would not recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea,” Zelensky told reporters on April 22, asserting that doing so would violate Ukraine’s constitution.
Following a meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the Vatican during Pope Francis’ funeral, reporters asked Trump if he believed Zelensky might concede Crimea. Trump responded: “Oh, I think so, yeah. Look, Crimea was 12 years ago.”
More: Melania Trump Sparks Wild Body Double Theories After Mysterious Appearance at Pope’s Funeral
More: CNN Forced to Cut Programming as Trump’s Approval Ratings Hit Historic Lows
Meanwhile, European and Ukrainian officials have grown increasingly concerned that Trump may be preparing to withdraw from efforts to resolve the war diplomatically. The Financial Times reported Monday that those familiar with the discussions fear a U.S. pullback is imminent. U.S. Vice President JD Vance underscored the administration’s growing impatience during remarks to reporters in India on April 23.
“We have engaged in an extraordinary amount of diplomacy and on-the-ground work. We really tried to understand things from the perspectives of both Ukrainians and Russians. I think that we put together a very fair proposal. It’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vance said.
Speaking to Charlie Kirk on Monday, Vance added: “If this doesn’t stop, the Ukrainians aren’t winning the war. I think there’s this weird idea among the mainstream media that if this thing goes on for just another few years, the Russians will collapse, the Ukrainians will take their territory back, and everything will go back to the way that it was before the war, that is not the reality that we live in.”
You Might Also Like:
- DHS Denies Racial Profiling Amid Growing Backlash Over Immigration Raids
- Paris Hilton candidly reveals the reason behind the ‘NSFW’ title
- Jennifer Garner Honors Ben Affleck With Touching Father’s Day Tribute
- ‘My Dad Doesn’t Use Computers’: Trump Jr. Accidentally Roasts President While Defending TrumpCoin
- Trump Banned from NAACP Convention for First Time in Over a Century — Civil Rights Group Says He’s ‘Dismantling Equality’