Kremlin says Trump’s criticism will not derail US-Russia prisoner swap

The Kremlin on Tuesday downplayed recent remarks by US President Donald Trump criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying they will not interfere with the progress of a US-Russia prisoner exchange deal reportedly agreed during a call last week.

“It is clear that the Russian and American sides should not and cannot agree on everything,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “But there is political will to implement the agreements that have been reached, and the work continues.”

The comments come in response to a statement Trump posted on his social media platform, TruthSocial, where he sharply criticized Putin’s actions in Ukraine.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote. “He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”

Trump went on to accuse Putin of seeking full control over Ukraine, “I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”

He also took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden, blaming them for escalating the war, “This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War, not ‘Trump’s,’ I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred.”

Despite the charged rhetoric, the Kremlin signaled it remains committed to the diplomatic track regarding the prisoner exchange, with Peskov reiterating both sides are continuing their work based on last week's understanding.