Vladimir Putin is set to reject Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine, a top Kremlin hardliner and ally to the Russian premier has said.
Konstantin Malofeev, who owns pro-Putin news outlet Tsargrad TV, said a plan brought forward by Trump's special envoy for the Ukraine war Keith Kellogg would be met with a hard no "because we don't like any of it".
"Kellogg comes to Moscow with his plan, we take it and then tell him to screw himself, because we don't like any of it," Malofeev said.
"That'd be the whole negotiation," he told the Financial Times.
Konstantin Malofeev said a plan brought forward by Trump's special envoy for the Ukraine war Keith Kellogg would be met with a hard no
FLICKR VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS"For the talks to be constructive, we need to talk not about the future of Ukraine, but the future of Europe and the world."
The media tycoon also said Trump could only end the conflict if he reversed Joe Biden's decision on the use of advanced long-range weapons and ousted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from office.
Malofeev also urged the President-elect to to meet Putin and "discuss all the issues of the global order at the highest level".
Trump and Putin are last known to have exchanged words over the phone shortly after the former's election victory just under a month ago.
Trump can only end the conflict if he ousted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Malofeev said
REUTERS
In the November 7 call, Trump urged Putin not to take things further, the Washington Post revealed.
He also told the 72-year-old Russian premier not to forget America's "sizeable" military presence in Europe.
His warnings over the US Army on Russia's doorstep followed a series of hawkish remarks by Kellogg.
The Ukraine war envoy told Fox News that the US should call Russia's bluff and "lean in" in response to Putin's ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine.
Trump told the 72-year-old Russian premier not to forget America's 'sizeable' military presence
GETTY
"He didn't use it because it was militarily effective... but because he is kind of saying to the West: 'See what I can do?'
But to hit back at Russia, the West should "lean in, because Putin will not start a nuclear war in Europe," Kellogg added.
However, Malofeev has significantly upped the stakes, saying Russia could fire a tactical nuclear weapon - leaving "a radiation zone nobody will ever go into in our lifetime" in its wake.
