Peskov : Many countries are openly hostile to Russia and it is necessary to minimize negative consequences of their actions

MOSCOW, Sep. 5. /ST/. Many countries are openly hostile to Russia and it is necessary to minimize the negative consequences of their actions, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with TASS on the eve of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

“A lot of new factors emerged. There are many states with a hostile attitude towards us that have already taken an openly belligerent position, that take various steps contradicting our interests, causing us harm, damage to our interests. So we need to counterbalance these actions and minimize these negative consequences,” he said.

Peskov blamed EU, UK, and Canadian sanctions for Russia’s failure to deliver gas through the key pipeline, which delivers gas to Germany from St Petersburg via the Baltic sea. “The problems pumping gas came about because of the sanctions western countries introduced against our country and several companies,” Peskov said, according to the Interfax news agency. “There are no other reasons that could have caused this pumping problem.”

Gazprom, Russia’s state-run gas monopoly, said on Friday it would halt gas supplies through Nord Stream 1 because of a technical fault, which it blamed on difficulties repairing German-made turbines in Canada.

As for the attack that took place near the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital, Peskov said: “Undoubtedly, we are talking about a terrorist act, which is absolutely unacceptable in general. We strongly condemn such terrorist acts.”

“Of course, the main thing to do now is to get information from the ground about what happened to our representatives and diplomats,” Peskov said. He added that “now the information will be clarified”.

Compiled by: Basma Qaddour