Maria Zakharova

A recent statement by a NATO general that the bloc could consider a “pre-emptive strike” against Russia shows that it is seeking escalation and wants to derail the Ukraine peace process, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

The Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Moscow views the provocative, anti-Iran resolution introduced by Western countries in the IAEA Board of Governors as a serious blow to the Agency's safeguards system and the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized during a press conference on Thursday that Moscow will continue its cooperation with Tehran on regional and international issues.

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry called Washington's decision to sanction the Russian companies Rosneft and Lukoil "unproductive," but emphasized that the decision will not create any specific problems for Moscow.

Ukraine is openly planning to use US-supplied long-range Tomahawk missiles to carry out “terrorist attacks” on Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.