Kremlin comments on alleged update of Germany’s security policy

MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. The Kremlin is concerned over an update of Germany’s security policy guidelines as its new position may lead to confrontation, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday in comments on an article published in the German newspaper Die Welt.

"If this information about a new edition of the White Paper is true, this can cause regret and concern simultaneously," the Kremlin spokesman said.

"This can cause regret because if this is true, then the talk is about the obvious misunderstanding of the Russian side’s position, which is well-known, consistent and is aimed at creating the atmosphere of interaction and mutually advantageous cooperation on the European continent rather than at confrontation," the presidential spokesman said.

"This can also cause concern because such a position is based on the wrong understanding and, perhaps, on some incorrect information. Such a position can, of course, lead to some confrontational actions, which won’t contribute in any way to the relations of mutual trust and mutual cooperation," the spokesman said.

The new edition of Germany’s White Paper, which stipulates the country’s security policy guidelines, mentions Russia "as a threat to the world order established in Europe after the cold war."

"Russia is ready to promote its interests by forceful methods, as was the case in Crimea and the east of Ukraine, and unilaterally move the borders guaranteed by international law. Therefore, it poses a threat to the world order established in Europe after the cold war," Germany’s updated security document says.

Germany’s Die Welt reported on Sunday that the German Defense Ministry listed Russia among ten major threats. According to Die Welt, the so-called White Paper, an upcoming government security policy guideline, will downgrade Germany’s approach to Russia from a partner to one of the top ten global threats, such as international terrorism, migrants and global climate change. The authors of the document reportedly claim that Russia questions the post-Cold War world order and blurs the lines between war and peace.

Alexey Pushkov, the chairman of the international committee of the Russian State Duma lower parliament house, earlier wrote on his Twitter account that Germany’s decision to put Russia on the list of the top ten major threats gives away its leaders’ bent to obey the United States administration.

"The Germany government’s decision to declare Russia as Germany’s opponent reflect [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel’s course towards obeying [US President Barack] Obama’s administration rather than the real state of affairs," he said on Twitter.