Kremlin spokesman says Moscow has made progress in talks to release Russian hostages by Hamas

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that "there is certain progress" in Moscow’s efforts to return its nationals from captivity by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

"The decision (on release of hostages) requires the coordination of the positions of several parties, we are now continuing, our diplomats continue to work on this," he said on the sidelines of a Russia forum in Moscow.

He argued that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine, but "is trying to end it," because if Moscow did not begin its "special military operation" in February 2022, Kyiv would continue its offensive against Donbas.

In the West, "irritation from Kyiv is growing," he said, adding that "very difficult times are coming" for Ukraine, including because of events in the Middle East.

As for US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's statement that claimed Washington spent $55 billion since 1991 "to help a strong democratic government to come to power in Ukraine," Peskov said: "It's a miserable country ... for which another country thinks what kind of government it should have, and pays, like in a taxi on a meter, to ensure that such a government comes to power."

He rejected remarks by NATO officials who described the alliance as "defensive," and said it was created as a military machine against the USSR, and therefore, against Russia, because it is the heir of the Soviet Union.

"The Kalashnikov machine gun is the most modern weapon in the world, no matter what you do, it will always be a machine gun,” said Peskov. “And so is NATO. This is a weapon of confrontation," he said.

He promised that in the future, Russia's response will be "commensurable" with the West's "provocations."

"We thought (in the 1990s) that when their cannons, tanks and missiles were coming closer to us, it was also only because of their passionate desire to be friends with us,” he said. “But now we have clearly stated our position and now everyone understands that when something threatens us, we will fight it.”

Peskov expects the future of Russia will be "difficult," but "it will be the future of a very strong, self-sufficient, independent, self-confident, modern, rich country."

He also said Russian President Vladimir Putin's unwillingness to go to some international events is because of his busy schedule.

Regarding media reports which claim Putin uses "doubles," Peskov said: "We have only one Putin."