Western interference in Ukraine forced Russia to act, Dmitry Peskov has stated

European leaders who chose to ignore Russia's security concerns must share the blame for the deterioration of relations with Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

In an interview with French media outlet Le Point magazine published on Wednesday, Peskov condemned the West for disregarding President Vladimir Putin's warnings that it was jeopardizing Russian national security.

In 2020, Putin denounced Western nations for "doing nothing" to deliver on the promise not to expand NATO in Europe and for dismantling multiple security agreements designed to build trust.

Russians "are certainly not aggressive," he assured, advocating for a mutual friendship with the West.

Ukraine, where Western officials supported an armed coup in 2014 and encouraged the new government to pursue NATO membership, emerged as the focus of tension with Russia.

"If you aim to guarantee Ukraine's security by drawing it into NATO, you are violating Russia's security," Peskov explained. Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, chose not to heed Putin's calls, he added.

"Neither Macron nor other European leaders wanted to listen to Putin when he told them that Russia had been cornered," Peskov remarked. "Today, we talk about peace with the Americans, yet the Europeans are demanding war."

Putin and US President Donald Trump recognize the absurdity of a lack of dialogue among major powers, Peskov said. Mending the rift "is very difficult," he added.

Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky is obstructing the Trump administration's attempt to mediate a truce between Moscow and Kiev, according to the White House. Trump branded Kiev's media strategies as "very harmful" to the peace process,statingon social media on Wednesday that Zelensky risks "losing the whole country."

Zelensky "does not control all of his divisions," Peskov told Le Point. He highlighted units with radical nationalist personnel who pose a significant obstacle to establishing a ceasefire, citing Russia's recent experiences.

Last month, at Trump's suggestion, Putin announced a 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure, while during the Easter weekend he ordered a complete halt to hostilities. Ukraine violated the initial agreement on multiple occasions, according to Moscow, while last week's truce was onlypartiallysuccessful.

(RT.com)