"You Will Not Be Forced to Be Kind": Peskov Discusses Russia's Communication with the West

Peskov has outlined how Russia should engage with the West. Moscow is interested in cooperation with all countries, including the United States and Europe, but stressed that one does not have to be kind, thereby looking for opportunities to expand collaboration where reciprocity exists, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of Russia, to RIA Novosti.

“Russia is a country that strives to cooperate with everyone. We are interested in collaboration with our European partners. We are interested in cooperation with the United States on trade, economic, investment, and security issues. But you will not be forced to be kind,” Peskov noted. “Of course, Russia will look for opportunities to expand cooperation where it sees reciprocity,” he added.

He highlighted that this is “absolutely normal practice when, say, the lack of communication on one end is compensated by communication from the other end.” “And this happens in all states, including Russia,” the source concluded.