Russia rejects Trump's comments on losses in Ukraine.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Russia has rejected comments by US President-elect Donald Trump suggesting that both Russia and Ukraine have suffered enormous losses in the nearly three-year-long conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Photo: TASS).

"Regarding the figures cited about losses on both sides, it is clear that they are presented according to Ukraine's interpretation and reflect Ukraine's official position. The actual number of losses is completely different: Ukraine's losses far exceed those of Russia by an exponential rate," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on December 8.

The comment came after US President-elect Donald Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social that both Russia and Ukraine have suffered significant losses in the three-year conflict.

"There needs to be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being wasted unnecessarily, too many families are being destroyed," Trump wrote.

He said that Kyiv had "lost 400,000 soldiers and many civilians senselessly." He did not specify whether this figure included the wounded. He emphasized that, currently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine want to reach an agreement with Russia to end the conflict.

President Zelensky said yesterday that approximately 43,000 of the country's soldiers have been killed, while 370,000 have been wounded, half of whom have returned to combat after treatment.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine have released casualty figures throughout the nearly three-year conflict. In February, Zelensky announced that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, but Western officials at the time estimated the actual number to be closer to 70,000.

Due to heavy losses in manpower and weapons, President Zelensky's administration has begun signaling in recent months its readiness to seek a diplomatic solution to the war with Russia.

He stated that Ukraine is ready to sign a ceasefire agreement if the territories currently under Ukrainian control are under NATO protection, while those occupied by Russia can be restored later through diplomatic means.

However, Russia still considers NATO's partial or complete accession of Ukraine a "red line." Moscow claims that a peace agreement can only be reached if Kyiv accepts the conditions set by President Vladimir Putin in June, including a commitment to neutrality, non-joining NATO, demilitarization, defascism, and recognition of territories annexed by Russia.

"President Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is ready to negotiate on Ukraine and welcomes peace initiatives, above all, from the countries of the Southern Hemisphere, our BRICS partners: China, India, Brazil, South Africa, as well as the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We have made our position clear. The conditions for an immediate ceasefire were outlined by President Putin in June," Peskov said.

Peskov emphasized that, first and foremost, Ukrainian President Zelensky must revoke the decree banning negotiations with Russia and return to negotiations based on the preliminary agreements reached by both sides in Türkiye at the beginning of the conflict.

He added that the Kremlin had carefully considered remarks by US President-elect Donald Trump regarding Ukraine's readiness for a peace deal with Russia.

During his election campaign, US President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly stated that he could end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours.

Although Trump did not specify his plans, many believe he will warn of cutting aid to Ukraine to force Kyiv to negotiate, and warn of providing more weapons to Ukraine if Russia refuses dialogue.

Speaking to the media hours after calling for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, he said he might reduce aid to Ukraine as soon as he takes office next month.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-phan-bac-binh-luan-cua-ong-trump-ve-ton-that-o-ukraine-20241209080609743.htm