ST. PETERSBURG, January 26. /TASS/. Russia appreciates Israel’s readiness to mediate the Ukrainian settlement efforts, Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
He added that Moscow is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict.
“We are certainly very grateful to our Israeli colleague for his balanced position and readiness to assist the conflict settlement efforts, but in this case it is impossible to be a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, because there is no conflict between Russia and Ukraine — Russia is not a party to this conflict,” said the Kremlin spokesman.
Media earlier on Monday quoted Israel’s Foreign Minister Lieberman as saying that his country maintained neutrality regarding the conflict in Ukraine, calling it “Russian-Ukrainian.” The Israeli foreign minister also called this approach a good foundation for the mediatory efforts.
Kiev's political will in needed for peaceful resolution of Ukrainian conflict, Peskov said.
According to Peskov, Kremlin described shelling of Donetsk as absolutely barbarian as situation in conflict zone in Donbas deteriorates.
The threat of new sanctions against Russia due to the deterioration of the Ukrainian conflict is unjustified "economic blackmail," Russia's Presidential Press Secretary said.
"Russia never agreed with threats like that and moreover, these threats and blackmail have never led and will never lead to Russia changing it's consistent and well-known position under pressure," Peskov said.
Kremlin spokesman called the threats of further economic sanctions as a reaction to any escalating situation in Ukraine an "absolutely destructive, unjustified and ultimately short-sighted" approach.
"Instead of increasing pressure on those who refuse to engage in dialogue and resolve the conflict peacefully, we hear the renewed economic blackmail against Russia," Peskov said.