Kremlin Says No US Trade Mechanisms Yet in Place Amid War

(MENAFN) Russia said Saturday that no formal mechanisms currently exist for trade and economic cooperation with the United States, even as both sides recognize the potential upside of renewed ties.

Speaking to the newspaper Izvestia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there is a shared understanding that restarting trade and economic cooperation with Washington would deliver "significant benefits" for both nations.

"At the corporate level, at least, we see a great deal of interest. However, in practical terms, there are currently no cooperation mechanisms in place, nor have any joint projects been implemented," Peskov said.

He added that whether such cooperation or joint ventures materialize remains uncertain until the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war reaches a resolution. Still, Peskov acknowledged US-led peacekeeping efforts, for which he said Russia is "very grateful," adding: "We sincerely hope that these efforts will bear fruit."

In further comments to Russian media, Peskov reiterated Moscow's opposition to deploying a European military contingent to Ukraine. "This is not a red line; it is Russia's position – one that has been conveyed to the entire world, and to Europeans in particular, in an extremely concrete and clear manner," he told Vesti.

In a separate interview with RT, Peskov accused Western nations of scaling back relations with Russia to "practically zero," calling the approach illogical and contrary to Europe's own interests. "On the contrary, it has led to widespread instability and conflict. We have effectively returned to a Cold War-like situation. And instead of discussing issues peacefully, we are now plunging into a highly confrontational environment," he said.

Peskov also told a state news agency that no decision has yet been made on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the upcoming G20 summit in the United States.

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