Kremlin Palace: "We Will Not Tolerate US Policies Based on Force"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Amid escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, the Kremlin has warned that it will not tolerate the U.S. policy of using force.

On the 30th (local time), Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said in an interview with the Russian current affairs weekly 'Argumenty i Fakty' (Arguments and Facts), "The United States is now parroting that it will engage in dialogue with all countries by showing force," adding, "President Vladimir Putin and the Russian leadership will not allow Americans or anyone else to talk to us in that manner."

Regarding U.S. President Joe Biden calling President Putin a "killer," Peskov criticized it as an "insulting remark" and "unprecedented." However, he added that despite Biden's rude behavior, President Putin instead proposed dialogue.

He emphasized that President Putin's public proposal for a debate with President Biden in mid-month was "essentially an offer for dialogue," stating, "The already severely damaged U.S.-Russia relations need to be revived, and therefore, there is a need to start a conversation."

He further explained that despite the deteriorated U.S.-Russia relations, both countries need to engage in dialogue on strategic stability, arms control, regional conflicts, and the Iranian nuclear issue.

Regarding the sudden recall of Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Peskov said it was to review U.S.-Russia relations under the Biden administration and that Russia would decide its policy direction after the review.

When asked if diplomatic relations with the U.S. might be severed, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "I do not want to talk about extreme scenarios."

Earlier, on the 17th, President Biden responded "Yes" when asked by a reporter in an interview with ABC whether he considered President Putin a "killer."

This was interpreted as a response based on the Western assessment that the Russian government was involved in the poisoning of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

Prior to this, on the 2nd of this month, the Biden administration concluded that the Russian government was behind the attempted poisoning of Navalny and imposed sanctions on senior Russian officials, research institutes, security agencies, and companies.

In the ABC interview, Biden also warned that Russia would pay a price based on recent reports from U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2020 U.S. presidential election as well as in 2016.

On the 18th, President Putin responded to Biden's "killer" remark by saying, "If you call others that, you yourself will be called the same."

He then proposed a public debate with President Biden to discuss current U.S.-Russia issues.

Putin said, "It should be under the condition of an online live broadcast," and that many issues such as bilateral relations, strategic stability, and resolving regional conflicts could be discussed in the debate.

Subsequently, Russia recalled Ambassador Antonov to Moscow to review U.S.-Russia relations.

Ambassador Antonov, who returned to Moscow on the 21st, is still reported to be in Moscow but has not yet met with President Putin.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.