Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Image: keystone
Jul 8, 2026, 12:24 amJul 8, 2026, 12:24 am
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, European countries are urging Ukraine to continue the war against Russia. “The Europeans still believe that Russia can be defeated strategically,” said Peskov in an interview with the Swiss “Weltwoche”. This is “the biggest mistake of all”. And with this European support, Kyiv is not flexible.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s spokesman assessed the current development in Europe, which is currently massively rearming, as a transformation process. “Europe has understood that there are no longer any real security guarantees from the USA,” he said and criticized the use of taxpayers’ money for European rearmament. “This is brainwashing of European taxpayers.”
Peskov categorically countered Europe’s fears about a possible escalation of the war in Ukraine into a third world war. “Russia is too big and responsible to trigger a third world war,” he emphasized. The USA is also aware of possible consequences. “We don’t have good relations at the moment, but we are smart enough to talk to each other.”
Given the tensions resulting from the war in Ukraine, Peskov saw many similarities to the political circumstances of the 1930s. “The militarization of Europe worries us,” he said. He therefore hopes for a new generation of European politicians. He did not comment on Russian politicians in the interview. (sda/dpa)