MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Russia should be ready for hostile acts from the European Union but would not want to sever ties with Brussels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday, commenting on the remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who said that Moscow is ready cut ties with the EU if Brussels chooses to impose sanctions that endanger sensitive sectors of the Russian economy.
Peskov underlined, "mass media outlets post the headline [about Lavrov’s comments] that came to be sensationalist without context." According to the Kremlin representative, "it is a big mistake by mass media outlets which changes the meaning."
"The point is that we don’t want this [to sever ties with the EU] but seek to develop relations with the European Union. However, if the EU chooses to go down this path [of imposing sanctions that entail risk for the Russian economy], then yes, we will be ready because you need to be ready for the worst," he explained. "This is what the minister spoke about. However, the meaning was distorted, and this sensationalist headline was presented in a way that paints Russia practically ready to initiate the break-up with the EU itself," Peskov said. "I just wanted to lament this," the spokesman acknowledged.
According to Peskov, Lavrov’s comments do not require "any confirmation." "Of course, if we face the most destructive policy that causes damage to our infrastructure and our interests, then Russia should be ready in advance for these hostile steps," Peskov stressed.