US, Russia relations nearing collapse: Kremlin

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday that the U.S.-Russia relations are on the verge of a major breakdown. Despite President Trump claiming that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend, the Kremlin has refused to confirm the call.

In his remarks during a news briefing in Moscow, as reported by Russian news agency TASS, Ryabkov stated that tensions between Washington and Moscow are at a critical point, adding that the war in Ukraine will continue until Ukraine gives up its goal of joining NATO and withdraws from areas controlled by Russian forces.

On Sunday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the U.S. was advancing in discussions to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, making a suggestion he and Putin had been in communication. This marked the first publicly recognized interaction between a U.S. president and the Russian leader since 2022.

Asked if he had had a discussion with Putin, Trump said, “Let’s just say I’ve had it … and I look forward to having many more discussions. We must work towards ending that war.”

However, the Russian minister appeared to indicate his country is taking a tough stance with Trump.

"In U.S. domestic politics and within the rigid framework of its foreign policy, Russia has been officially labeled as a 'major adversary', as they call us [Russia] officially."

He added that Trump's team has shown interest in resuming dialogue with Russia but stated there has been no agreement on high-level contacts yet.

"[The] political solution as we envisage it cannot be achieved otherwise than through the full implementation of what was pronounced by President Putin when he spoke to the Russian Foreign Ministry in June," Ryabkov said in his Monday remarks, referring to when Putin criticized the U.S. for maintaining its "imperial status and dominance," which he said was "driven by aggressive messianism based on the belief in their own superiority."

"This is where we are, and the sooner U.S., Britain and others understand it, the better it would be and the closer this desired political solution will be for everyone," Ryabkov added.

According to NBC, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also shied away from confirming Trump and Putin had spoken, saying he would “neither confirm nor deny" it.

The Hill has reached out to the White House and State Department for comment.

Topics

Sirianni: '23 collapse 'shaped' Eagles for title run

Nick Sirianni says the adversity the Eagles experienced during their collapse in 2023 helped to shape the 2024 championship squad.
ESPN - 4h
Hamas postpones upcoming hostage release, risking ceasefire collapse

Hamas announced Monday it will hold back releasing hostages at the end of the week until further notice, according to a statement by the group reported by multiple media outlets. Hamas, designated ...
The Hill - 12h
Russia says U.S. relations are on brink of collapse, refuses to confirm Trump call claim

The Kremlin said Russia-U.S. relations were nearing collapse and would not confirm whether President Putin had spoken with President Trump, after Trump said so.
NBC News - 18h
Chiefs, Ravens favored to win in '26, Eagles near

The Eagles won their second Super Bowl in franchise history with a thunderous 40-22 victory over the Chiefs Sunday night, but it's Kansas City and the Baltimore Ravens who are favored to win it all ...
ESPN - 20h
Ecuador goes to the polls amid rise in drug-related gang violence

Voters who have become victims of crime wave linked to cocaine trade will determine outcome of presidential election. Ecuadorians are voting in a presidential election that has shaped up to be a ...
The Guardian - 1d
Former National Labor Relations Board member fired by Trump speaks out

Gwynne Wilcox is suing the president, arguing that he had no legal cause to fire her.
CBS News - 3d
US aid cutoff poses new challenges to rights groups in Russia and Belarus

Rights groups, activists and independent media in Russia and Belarus endured increased government scrutiny, repressive laws and even were shut down and forced to operate from exile abroad
ABC News - 3d
EV Sales Climb in Spite of Automaker Losses and Trump-Related Uncertainty

Ford’s EV unit lost billions of dollars, but at the same time, EV sales as a whole were up in the U.S. in 2024 compared to the year before.
Inc. - 4d
The Collapse of USAID Is Already Fueling Human Trafficking and Slavery at Scammer Compounds

The dismantling of USAID by Elon Musk's DOGE and a State Department funding freeze have severely disrupted efforts to help people escape forced labor camps run by criminal scammers.
Wired - 5d