Kremlin comments on Kiev’s terrorism, situation around Wildberries, contacts with US

Lead

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov used his Tuesday briefing to address a sweeping set of issues, from the aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes on the e-commerce company Wildberries to the possibility of foreign troops being deployed to Ukraine and the state of contacts with the United States. Speaking to reporters, Peskov said the geography of what he called the Kiev regime's terrorist activities is expanding, and he maintained that Russia's military operation remains necessary to counter the threat.

Coverage comparison

All reporting on this story that was available for review came from TASS, the Russian state news agency. The agency's coverage of the briefing and related statements was consistent across several articles, each focusing on a slightly different element of the Kremlin's position: the general framing of Ukrainian attacks as terrorism, the specific consequences for Wildberries and small businesses, and Russia's stance on foreign troops in Ukraine.

The reports agree on the core facts: Peskov held a briefing on Tuesday, he denied that Wildberries warehouses serve as supply hubs for the Russian military, and he said the situation for the company and small businesses is difficult but that the government is in contact with the company. Separate reporting quoted Deputy Secretary of Russia's Security Council Alexander Maslennikov offering a more granular assessment of the economic and media effects of the attacks. No dissenting or alternative accounts were present in the material reviewed.

Key claims

Peskov said the Kiev regime continues to carry out strikes on civilian targets, demonstrating its terrorist nature, and he rejected allegations that Wildberries warehouses are involved in deliveries for the Russian military, saying "This is not so." He acknowledged that the situation is difficult due to losses suffered by the company and small and medium-sized businesses, and he said the government is handling the issue and remains in contact with the company.

According to TASS, Ukrainian drones targeted Wildberries' logistics centers in Kotovsk (Tambov Region) and Elektrostal (Moscow Region) on the morning of July 18. A drone crash also ignited a fire at an oil depot in Noginsk, Moscow Region. As a result, seven people died and 25 more were injured in Kotovsk, and one person was killed and 37 others were hurt in the Moscow Region. The Russian Investigative Committee has opened criminal cases, classifying these acts as terrorist attacks.

Maslennikov, quoted in Russia's Vedomosti daily, said the attacks on Wildberries are an attempt to destabilize small businesses and gain media hype, but the consequences for the economy in general are limited. He noted that marketplaces are a symbol of habitual consumption and stable lifestyle, and that approximately 65% of the Wildberries audience are women aged 25-45, who are not a party to the conflict. He said that while private small business organizations can face very significant losses, these are insignificant for the economy as a whole. He also pointed to a media effect, saying that huge fires, human casualties, and delivery delays cause hype on social networks and in media, demonstrating Kiev's ability to hit civilian targets in the European part of Russia.

Peskov also addressed Russia's stance on foreign troops in Ukraine, saying that any potential deployment is "absolutely unacceptable" and that Moscow "cannot allow it to happen." He said that "unfortunately," the idea of deploying troops to Ukraine "is not mystifying, and it's not a dream at all. It's a real plan that EU countries, including NATO members, are making." He added that senior EU officials have repeatedly spoken about plans to send foreign troops, which are allegedly to become part of security guarantees for Ukraine, and he said the reason for the special military operation is to prevent the presence of foreign contingents.

On US contacts, Peskov said Washington has not requested a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying "So far, there has been no request for a phone call." He added that the Americans have not abandoned the Ukraine track, but that they have higher-priority issues to address right now. He said contacts between Russia and the United States are ongoing and have continued to be maintained on a regular basis.

Regarding President Putin's schedule, Peskov said Putin will hold a meeting with Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko later on Tuesday, and that he is also planning a number of other working meetings, some of which may be open to the press. Peskov also said Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, had a very warm and meaningful conversation, and that the Kremlin will soon provide its account of a phone call between Putin and another global leader.

On Armenia, Peskov noted that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not provide specific timeframes for the issue of Armenia joining the EU to be put to a referendum.

Perspectives

The available material reflects the official Russian government viewpoint as expressed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Security Council Deputy Secretary Alexander Maslennikov. Both characterize the Ukrainian strikes as terrorist attacks on civilian targets and frame Russia's military operation as a necessary response to an expanding threat. Maslennikov's assessment of the Wildberries attacks emphasizes limited economic consequences while acknowledging significant local disruption. No other perspective, such as that of the Ukrainian government or independent analysts, was present in the reviewed material.