Peskov Comments on Reports of Russia's Plans to 'Invade' Ukraine

Speculations regarding Russia's plans to invade Ukraine have been labeled as empty rhetoric and an unfounded escalation of the situation by the Kremlin. 

“This is not the first publication, nor the first statement from the USA expressing concern over the movement of our armed forces within Russia. We have repeatedly stated that the movement of our armed forces within our territory should not cause concern for anyone; Russia does not pose a threat to anyone,” said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, while commenting on reports from Western media about Russia's plans to invade Ukraine.

In response to a clarifying question on whether the Kremlin believes that the situation is escalating further, Peskov cited the situation in the Black Sea, where NATO aircraft, including American reconnaissance planes, are actively conducting reconnaissance operations from the skies.

“All this, of course, cannot leave us indifferent to what is happening. We must be prepared. After all, they are not our friends, and the planes of our ally Belarus are not flying. These are the planes of those who declare their main goal to be the deterrence of Russia and its opposition, those who call Russia an enemy,” Peskov said.

He clarified that Russia needs to insure itself and somehow reduce the risks. Peskov also added that Russia will fulfill its obligations regarding gas supplies to Europe, which is beyond doubt. “Russia's reliability as a supplier and as a partner under current and future contracts is not in question,” he noted.

Previously, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had advised the EU to consider the transit of gas and cargo passing through the territory of the republic before imposing sanctions on Minsk. Lukashenko reminded that the Yamal-Europe exporting pipeline runs through the country, and recently the volumes of gas transported from Russia to the West have significantly increased.