NATO Is De Facto in Direct Armed Confrontation With Russia, Peskov Says

Russia's presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in an interview with the "Izvestia" newspaper on Tuesday that NATO countries, taking into account their weapons deployed in Ukraine, conducting reconnaissance activities, and the ongoing supply of arms, are effectively fighting against Russia as a unified alliance.

"In reality, NATO now acts as a unified coalition, no longer as our conventional adversaries, but as enemies. Their intelligence operates against us around the clock, and their weapons, as highlighted by Putin in a recent interview, are supplied to Ukraine free of charge and are used to attack our military personnel. Not to mention that they are also firing upon Ukrainian citizens, shelling Ukrainian cities and villages. Countries such as France, England, and the United States are now part of the same organization that is effectively at war with us and is in direct armed confrontation with us, given their weapons in Ukraine," Peskov said in the interview with the publication.

The press secretary emphasized that "there is nothing to hide here, nothing to smooth over; we must call things by their names, and this must be understood, even though it is probably evident how sensitive this area is. They repeat like a mantra every time that they do not wish to be part of the conflict."

According to Peskov, in light of France's declarations of intent to increase its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, Macron's potential as a mediator is diminishing. "We have heard five or six statements from Macron regarding his willingness to call and speak with Putin, but everyone should know this: there have been no requests, orientations, or studies about possible dates for such conversations. If we speak about the content, then there is. Here lies a big question mark because one thing is when you remain neutral towards the conflicting parties, and another is when you indirectly participate in military operations and announce your intention to increase involvement, and you are on one party’s side... How can you hope for mediating potential in that case?" Peskov stated.

The head of state's press secretary, responding to his own rhetorical question, noted: "In no way, that potential simply disappears." Peskov added that the point of China's plan to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, which states that one country's security cannot be ensured at the expense of another's, aligns with Russia's stance on this issue.