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Recent comments from Constantin Mala, a notable oligarch and hardliner aligned with the Kremlin, suggested that Russia is ready to outright reject Trump's peace offer. This reaction, however, seems perplexing at first glance—particularly since Trump's alleged peace plan is yet to be made public.
Mala is a figure whose remarks cannot simply be brushed aside. His close ties to the Kremlin signify that his opinions are likely reflective of wider governmental attitudes. He asserted that the rejection stems from skepticism surrounding General Keith Kog, Trump's appointed special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Kog's hawkish stance towards Putin adds fuel to the Kremlin's reluctance to engage with a proposal seen as inadequately respectful of Russian interests.