Cliff Notes
- Donald Trump likened Russia’s war with Ukraine to children fighting in a playground, prompting a response from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
- Peskov emphasised that the conflict is an "existential" issue for Russia, tied to its national interests and future security.
- His remarks coincide with ongoing concerns regarding the evacuation of children from Ukraine to Russia, amid international scrutiny and legal actions against Russian officials.
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Russia has responded to Donald Trump comparing its war with Ukraine to a playground fight.
Just to bring you up to speed, Trump said: “Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy, they hate each other and they’re fighting in a park.”
He added: “Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about that this morning.
While Trump has a right to his own opinion, he said the conflict for Russia is an “existential” matter.
“This is a question of our national interests, this is a question of our security and the future of ourselves and our children, the future of our country,” he said.
For context: It’s worth noting here that Russia started the war in February 2022 when it invaded Ukraine, despite repeatedly denying it had any plans to do so.
Peskov’s mention of children may also raise eyebrows, as, according to Ukraine, more than 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory.
Moscow has said it has been evacuating people voluntarily, in order to protect vulnerable children from the war.
Two years ago, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and his children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over the deportation of the children.