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Amid these revelations, U.S.-Russia relations remain tense. Trump has recently criticized Putin, accusing him of stalling peace efforts in Ukraine, a stark contrast from his previous rhetoric. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, expressing shared frustration over stalled peace negotiations and noting Moscow’s inflexibility.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump announced the resumption of U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine—an action likely to provoke Moscow's disapproval. The Kremlin responded by accusing Washington of "fueling the conflict," a move that Moscow claims undermines peace efforts, though critics argue the conflict was initiated by Putin's invasion.