Kremlin rules out changes on battlefield after US approval of financial aid to Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that the new US financial aid package to Ukraine will not change the situation on the battlefield.

In response to the US Senate's approval of a bill allocating over $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, Peskov said: "New shipments of weapons that are highly likely ready to be sent will not change the situation at the front."

Peskov emphasized that a year ago opponents were "counting days" till Russia's defeat on the battlefield, while at the beginning of this year, everyone suddenly started talking about Ukraine's failure.

"Then, as America allocated the next money for its military-industrial complex, so that it could send weapons to Ukraine, everyone began to talk it would be possible to avoid the collapse of the Kyiv regime. That is, the accents have mutated very much, they have changed," he said.

Russia's goals in Ukraine, where it started a "special military operation" two years ago, remain the same, including the establishment of a "sanitary zone" from where Ukraine's long-range missiles will be unable to hit the country's territory, he said.

Turning to an issue of Russians having problems with flying to Latin America on Turkish Airlines flights, Peskov expressed confidence that it would be resolved through amicable relations between Moscow and Ankara.

"Our diplomatic mission is working very actively here, without waiting for top-level contacts, and our government is actively working, which tirelessly raises this issue and speaks about the unacceptability of such a situation for us and for Russian citizens," he said.

The official emphasized that Russia and Türkiye have "very constructive and friendly relations" that allow them to address arising problems.

"We are convinced that the friendly nature of our relations allows us to count on the settlement of all such issues," he said.

As for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement of raising military spending to 2.5% of national income by 2030 and putting the defense industry on "war footing," Peskov said it is a way to mask "economic difficulties" the country is experiencing.