Kremlin says Ukraine escalating conflict as official defends Russian strikes

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “wants the war to continue,” reiterating Moscow’s position that Russian armed forces are striking only military and military-related targets in Ukraine while accusing Kyiv of targeting civilian infrastructure in Russia.

Peskov made the remarks while responding to questions about recent strikes on Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Regarding strikes by our armed forces, they are carried out exclusively against military or military-related targets. In this regard, it is also worth once again noting the continuing strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using drones on civilian targets and civilian infrastructure in various Russian cities and settlements,” he said.

The Kremlin spokesman also said Moscow expects continued peace and mediation efforts from Washington to help resolve the conflict.

“We expect that our American colleagues will continue their peacekeeping, mediation efforts,” Peskov noted.

Commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s remarks about possible Russian strikes on Ukraine or NATO countries from Belarusian territory, Peskov said the comments were aimed at escalating tensions.

“We do not think such statements deserve any comment. Belarus is our ally; we have a Union State with Belarus. But it is a sovereign state. Therefore, such statements are nothing other than an attempt to further incite the continuation of the war and escalate tensions,” he said.

Turning to Russia’s foreign policy agenda, Peskov said Moscow is placing significant expectations on President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to China scheduled for May 19–20.

“We have very serious expectations from this visit. (...) We are developing our independent and very multifaceted relations with China, which we and our Chinese friends call relations of a privileged, special strategic partnership,” he said.

He noted that the Russian delegation will include deputy prime ministers, ministers, and heads of major companies operating in China, with all key economic issues expected to be discussed during the visit.

Peskov also highlighted expanding cooperation between Russia and China beyond economics, including education, healthcare, and culture. He said a “Year of Russian-Chinese Cooperation in Education” will be launched and added that “any contact between our leaders creates new momentum for expanding relations.”

Separately, he said Russia maintains ongoing contact with Cuba and continues to discuss measures to ease the impact of the blockade on the island.

“We are in constant contact with our Cuban friends. Of course, we regularly exchange views and information on what could be done to ease the truly enormous burden caused by the blockade imposed,” he said.

The situation in Cuba remains critical, with fuel shortages and power outages causing severe difficulties. It has further deteriorated since late January 2026, after the US administration announced measures aimed at fully blocking fuel supplies to the island.

By Vafa Guliyeva