Kremlin criticizes 'provocative' NATO-Ukraine program

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday criticized the "provocative" nature of the new NATO-Ukraine cooperation program and said Moscow finds it "unfavorable."

"It is quite obvious that NATO is going to continue cooperation with Ukraine. Yes, this is what we do not like, and what we consider to be quite provocative NATO's actions in relation to our security concerns," he said at a news conference in Moscow.

Commenting on the defense cooperation program signed between Armenia and Britain for 2023 - 2024, Peskov noted Yerevan's right to develop relations with other states as it deems appropriate.

"We have our own relations with Armenia. And, of course, Armenia is a friendly country, it is our ally. We will continue to develop our allied relations," he said.

Turning to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in North Macedonia, he said the diplomat will have a "very busy schedule."

Peskov described as "inexplicable, going beyond any limits, absurd and even stupid,” Bulgaria's decision to close its airspace for the ministerial plane because of the presence of Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on board.

"I would like to appeal to the Bulgarian leadership and urge them to still try with the last of their strength to maintain sobriety in their decisions," he said.

- 'Putin always valued Kissinger's wisdom'

Peskov said President Vladimir Putin and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who died Wednesday, knew each other for a long time, met many times and had very deep conversations about the current state of international and Russian-American relations, and the vision of the future.

"President Putin has always appreciated the wisdom, political maturity, and phenomenal diplomatic talent of Henry Kissinger," he said.

The Kremlin said separately that Putin offered condolences to Kissinger's widow, Nancy, wishing her and other relatives "fortitude in the face of the bereavement."

Putin praised Kissinger as "an outstanding diplomat, a wise and far-sighted statesman who has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation throughout the world for many decades."

Kissinger's pragmatic foreign policy facilitated a detente of international tension and contributed to the signing of crucial Soviet-American agreements, enhancing global security, he said.

Peskov announced that Putin will hold his annual news conference Dec. 14. It will be combined with the Direct Line, an annual event when the Russian president answers on-air questions from ordinary citizens.