EU idea of defense policy seeking ‘confrontation’ with Russia a ‘dead end’: Kremlin

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the EU’s idea of a defense policy that it argued seeks “confrontation” with Russia is a “dead end.”

In remarks to journalists at a press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Europe of being “obsessed with plans to militarize the EU” and said the 27-member economic union is moving toward adopting a military-political element.

“This is problematic because they are building their defense and security identity on the basis of confrontation with the Russian Federation – a dead-end path that, as history shows, leads to no good outcome,” Peskov said.

Amid France’s test of a new ballistic missile launched from a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine a day earlier, Peskov said Russia remains vigilant and is closely monitoring the situation amid Europe’s “aggressive rhetoric” against his country.

Peskov further said that Russia has taken note of French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about the test’s “loud and clear” message, which he said in a video of him observing the launch that has been posted on US social media company X.

He added that while Russia is taking security measures in the context of the EU's “militarization,” Moscow remains open to dialogue with Europe.

Peskov also commented on a possible phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, which the latter said Tuesday would take place “very soon,” saying such a call has not yet been specifically agreed on.

“If such an initiative is put forward, I have no doubt that it will be promptly approved,” Peskov added.

On Tuesday, Trump said that he has a call scheduled "very soon" with Putin concerning reports emerging of a pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia’s Siberian region of Irkutsk.

Local authorities in Irkutsk imposed quarantine measures for people and several departments of the district hospital amid reports, which said an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of ​Siberia and the Far East has been diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology.”

Russia’s consumer and health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor announced Monday that the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region is “calm,” while the development has raised concerns and public health fears on social media.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that it is closely monitoring reports in this context, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russia that same day to provide full transparency and share detailed information with the international community regarding the incident.

“The media are reporting a great deal, and the overwhelming majority of what they are reporting regarding this situation is false information,” Peskov said, urging the public to rely on Rospotrebnadzor's statements regarding the situation.

He also said the World Health Organization has been informed of the situation “in accordance with established practice.”