Peskov: NATO considers Ukraine its property

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the statements of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reveal NATO, which considers Ukraine its property.

He added: "Such statements lead to further escalation of tension, although there is no longer room for greater escalation. Most importantly, they actually show NATO's point of view, which considers Ukraine part of the alliance."

The US Secretary of Defense said during a hearing in the House of Representatives that Ukraine's defeat "threatens a direct military clash between Russia and NATO," and described the continued advance of the Russian army as "worrying."

Recently, ideas have been increasingly expressed in the West about “a direct armed conflict between Russia and NATO,” while the Kremlin has repeatedly indicated that Russia does not pose a threat to anyone, and that it does not intend to strike any targets on the territory of NATO and Europe. However, at the same time, it will not ignore any actions that may pose a threat to its interests.

In addition, in recent years, Russia has observed unprecedented NATO activity near its western borders, while the alliance is expanding its initiatives, calling them “countering Russian aggression.” Moscow has expressed more than once its concern about the mobilization of coalition forces in Europe, and the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow will remain open to dialogue with NATO, but on an equal footing, while the West must abandon the path of militarization of the European continent.