On Friday, the Kremlin announced that Russia is willing to assist in de-escalating conflicts in the Middle East and is engaged with all relevant stakeholders, as confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. In a press briefing, Peskov addressed media reports indicating that Israel had sought Russia’s intervention to mediate in talks with Hezbollah. Referring to President Vladimir Putin’s stance, Peskov stated, “Moscow maintains contacts with all parties involved,” and he affirmed, “If our involvement can be constructive, Russia stands ready to help.”
The situation has intensified since Israel’s expansion of military operations into Lebanon at the end of September, following a cross-border assault by Hamas in early October. Reports suggest that the conflict has resulted in significant casualties in Gaza, affecting an estimated 43,000 Palestinians.
Commenting on U.S. politics, Peskov also responded to recent remarks by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Trump had shared with journalist Tucker Carlson that he had blocked the Nord Stream 2 project during his presidency and had no affiliation with Russia. Trump further commented on potentially dividing Russia and China as a strategic measure. Peskov labeled Trump’s statements as “incomprehensible,” clarifying that Russia’s partnership with China is based on shared interests, not antagonism towards other nations.
Peskov also lent his support to a legal suit filed by the Russian non-profit organization Dialog against the FBI in the United States. Expressing skepticism over the impartiality of American courts, he remarked, “In cases like this, we do not expect American courts to uphold neutrality and fairness.”
Finally, addressing recent claims of Russian interference in Moldova’s upcoming presidential election, Peskov dismissed the allegations, saying, “We categorically deny any involvement; we are not engaging in any such activities.”
