Coming days will show whether US will adjust its policy towards Russia - Riekstins

RIGA - The coming days will show whether the US will adjust its policy towards the aggressor state Russia, Latvian Ambassador to NATO Maris Riekstins said in an interview to the Latvian Television on Monday.

He explained that the intensified Russian airstrikes against Ukraine in recent days prove that Russia, unlike Ukraine, is not ready for a ceasefire. This is no surprise for Latvian politicians and foreign policy makers, the diplomat added.

This shows that the international community needs to step up its political, financial and military support to Ukraine, while at the same time strengthening sanctions against Russia. Obviously, only Russia's failure to make progress on the front line could force it to the negotiating table and lead to some mutually acceptable solutions, Riekstins explained.

The ambassador reminded that US President Donald Trump has been trying to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table since he took office, but this has failed due to Russia's effectively dismissive response, so now the US administration might be forced to adjust its policy towards this conflict.

Asked whether such a move by the US could really be expected, despite Trump's occasional flattering remarks to the Russian dictator, Riekstins replied that the next few days could be decisive on this issue.

The ambassador also added that a bill on a new package of sanctions against Russia, drafted by US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, is expected to move forward soon and has already been signed by more than 80 Senators. "So I think the next few days could be crucial for us to see what these adjustments [to US policy towards Russia] will be. Personally, I would predict that obviously adjustments should follow because, as I said, the efforts (...) to stop this conflict, aggression and killing of people in the negotiation process are being ignored by Russia, demonstrating in a brutal way that they are simply not interested in such a scenario," Riekstins said.

As reported, US President Trump on Sunday strongly criticized Russian dictator Putin for attacks on Ukraine that are killing civilians and said that Putin "has gone absolutely crazy".

"I have always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely crazy! 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 posted on Truth Social on Sunday.

Trump made this statement after 12 people were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine on the night of Sunday.

The US president also warned that if Putin wants all of Ukraine, it will "lead to downfall of Russia".

Trump also expressed his dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he was "not doing his country any good by talking the way he talks".

"Everything that comes out of his mouth causes problems, I do not like it, and it would be better if it stopped," wrote the US President...

Shortly before, Trump criticized Putin while speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.

"I am not happy with what Putin is doing. He is killing a lot of people. And I do not know what the hell has happened to Putin", Trump said before boarding a plane to Washington.