A Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, responded to Lithuania’s decision to strip figure skaters Povilas Vanagas and Margarita Drobyazko of a state prize for their involvement in a Russian television show. He asserted that Russia cannot be denied and that such denial is simply not possible. His remarks aired during a broadcast of the Vesti program on the Rossiya 1 channel.
He framed the issue as a broader struggle where some nations push the boundaries of reason. He asked whether it is possible to deny Tchaikovsky and, by extension, Russia itself. Whether one agrees or not, he stated, denial is not feasible.
Earlier, Peskov had highlighted that European Union member states responded to Russia’s actions by imposing a wide range of sanctions intended to punish Moscow. He suggested that these measures would eventually prompt reflection in European capitals about the consequences of backing Ukrainian leadership and policies under President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Previously, the Kremlin spokesperson noted that unfriendly countries often adopt sanctions without fully considering their long-term implications. He expressed hope that common sense would prevail over time and lead to more tempered approaches in international policy.