Kremlin says countries favoring escalation in Ukraine hurt their interests

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that those countries, particularly from the NATO military bloc that choose escalation in Ukraine, are hurting their own interests.

Commenting on results of a series of meetings on Ukraine in the EU at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov said NATO members, especially the US, have been "consciously entering a new round of escalating tensions in recent days and weeks."

"This is nothing more than provoking a new level of tension. We understand that this negative trend in their approach, unfortunately, persists. They are provoking Ukraine in every possible way to continue this senseless war," he said.

In recent weeks, discussions have been under way in Western capitals about authorizing Ukraine to use their weapons for hitting targets on Russia's territory.

The spokesman said those countries that oppose the escalation suffer pressure, particularly Hungary and its Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"Mr. Orban is very attentive to the interests of his country. And every time any binding decisions are made in relation to EU member states, of course, Budapest first of all analyzes these decisions for its own interests. Of course, not everyone likes such independence in Brussels, so both Orban and the entire Hungarian leadership are subjected to pressure that is not disguised by anything, quite unprecedented," he said.

Peskov said the EU system does not provide all its members with the same degree of independence, and an independent course can become a reason for some kind of a "punishment" from other states.