Kremlin urges US to stop using Russia for political fodder, harming bilateral ties

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Kremlin expressed hope on Friday that the day will come when the US will no longer need to use Russia as a tool in its political battles, sacrificing bilateral relations for its own interests.

"It is clear that both our country and our president have, unfortunately, become integral parts of the US political struggle," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a press briefing in Moscow.

US affairs are not a priority for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said, adding: "For him, the main focus is on the well-being of Russian citizens."

"When asked about international issues, he comments on them. As for his tone, those interested abroad should interpret it for themselves, let's not deprive them of that opportunity," he remarked.

Regarding the latest US sanctions against Russian citizens, Peskov called the approach "unacceptable.”

"We strongly condemn this and consider it unacceptable. But we are aware of the reality in which we exist and will act in accordance with our interests,” he added.

On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russian broadcaster RT, and two of her colleagues.

Additionally, the State Department tightened rules on the RT’s parent company Rossiya Segodnya, and its affiliates, including RIA Novosti, RT, TV-Novosti, Ruptly, and Sputnik, labeling them as "foreign representative offices."

When asked about possible Russian responses, Peskov said Moscow would consider the editorial policies of American media outlets when imposing retaliatory measures, noting that there would be no unified approach: "We will take all these factors into account."

Turning to recent remarks by Taiwanese leader Lai Qingde, who proposed annulling the Aigun Treaty of 1858 that established the Russian-Chinese border along the Amur River, Peskov said: "We haven't seen such statements, to be honest. And even if they had, it can hardly be taken seriously."

Regarding Kyrgyzstan's decision to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, Peskov stressed the importance of maintaining neighborly ties.

"Kyrgyzstan is geographically very close to Afghanistan. It's crucial for neighbors to build relations with the de facto government. Without this, it's impossible to establish any meaningful contacts. We understand this situation," he said.