Moscow: The Kremlin on Friday expressed disapproval of the United States' approach to linking economic cooperation with Russia to developments in the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted the ongoing potential for mutually beneficial economic collaboration between the two nations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Peskov emphasized that the US is skewing the situation by focusing too heavily on resolving issues around Ukraine. He noted that this approach not only harms Russian interests but also affects American companies that are missing potential profits from delayed cooperation.
Peskov also addressed rumors regarding Russia's potential use of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) as leverage against the US. He dismissed these claims, instead accusing Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the pipeline through drone strikes, which he described as 'energy blackmail.' He pointed out that such actions negatively impact Russian, American, and Kazakh companies involved in the CPC project.
The CPC serves as a crucial export route for oil from the Caspian region, extending over 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from western Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The consortium includes a mix of Russian, Kazakh, and Western companies, with US energy firm Chevron among them.
Peskov also commented on the Nord Stream pipelines, which were damaged in explosions in September 2022. These pipelines, previously a channel for Russian natural gas to Europe, remain under complex legal status due to ongoing sanctions. Despite many foreign companies withdrawing, the ownership of the pipelines remains with the Russian state energy company Gazprom.