Russia rejects sanctions speculation, accuses Europe of escalating war

The Kremlin has refrained from offering any speculation regarding the potential impact of new US sanctions—should they be imposed by President Donald Trump—on future negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that such conjecture is premature and unconstructive, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

“As diplomats say, hypothetical reasoning is hardly appropriate in this context,” Peskov stated in response to questions from journalists.

In a separate briefing, Peskov sharply criticized Europe for what he described as indirect involvement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He asserted that continued military support for Kyiv, particularly in the form of arms deliveries, constitutes de facto participation in the war.

“We observe that Europe is indirectly taking part—arms deliveries continue, which amounts to indirect participation in the war against Russia,” the Kremlin spokesman said. He further noted that discussions within the EU regarding the possible deployment of European contingents only serve to escalate tensions.

“Such actions by European countries do not contribute in any way to the pursuit of a peaceful settlement,” Peskov concluded, reinforcing Moscow's narrative that Western involvement remains a major obstacle to diplomacy.

By Vafa Guliyeva