Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed growing doubts about the possibility of reaching a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the near future or facilitating direct talks between the two nations' leaders, according to a Friday report by NBC News, citing two senior officials.
The report has not been independently verified by Reuters.
Earlier in the day, Trump posted on his social media platform, stating that Russia had aligned itself with China. He wrote:
*"Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!"*
In a separate development, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on Trump’s diplomatic style in an interview published Friday, describing it as "quite pragmatic." Speaking with the Russian publication Argumenty i Fakty, Peskov contrasted Trump’s approach with that of European nations, accusing them of obstructing efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine.
"Trump is far more practical. He takes a clear stance: 'Why fight when you can negotiate?' Acting in the interest of the U.S., he seeks to prevent conflicts," Peskov said.
He added that Russia prefers diplomatic solutions over military escalation in Ukraine. "If Trump can assist in advancing political and diplomatic efforts, our interests align, and that should be recognized positively."
Peskov also suggested the possibility of another meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in the coming months.
Debate Over Pentagon Name Change
Opponents have raised concerns over Trump’s expected directive to modify the name of the Department of Defense to include "Department of War" as an alternate title, a move set to be formalized by an executive order on Friday.
The change, bypassing the need for congressional approval, will allow the term "Department of War" to be used in official communications while keeping the current name as the primary designation. Officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, would also be permitted to use "Secretary of War" in formal contexts.
Trump has advocated for the shift for several weeks, arguing that reinstating the historical name would reflect a stronger stance, recalling the era of U.S. military successes in the World Wars.
*"Our victories came under the Department of War,"* Trump remarked last week. "Then it was changed to Defense."
The rebranding effort is estimated to incur significant costs due to updates required in documentation, signage, and public materials.
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