Türkiye as new gas hub meets interests of Moscow, Ankara: Peskov
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov speaks to journalists prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 23, 2021. (AP File Photo)


Creating a gas hub in Türkiye would meet the interests of both Moscow and Ankara, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan supported the idea and gave instructions to immediately start consultations.

"This initiative, in fact, is in the interests of both Moscow and Ankara. Therefore, now all the nuances will be worked out," he said.

Peskov added that TurkStream is a well-working gas system, as for building the hub, a lot of questions should be resolved before making a final decision about its construction.

Turning to the accident with Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Peskov said Russia is bumping into a wall, trying to find out the truth about what happened.

He said Moscow is making intense diplomatic efforts in contact with Denmark, Germany and Sweden but sees unwillingness to interact and to get to the truth together.

Peskov said the truth about the Nord Streams accident "will surely surprise many in these European countries if it is established and made public."

"As for possible performers, our considerations and our preliminary assumptions are well-known. We cannot have any new data at the moment, because we are deprived of the opportunity to take part in the investigation of this act of sabotage. Neither the Germans, nor the Swedes, nor the Danes share information with us," he said.

Turning to the situation in Ukraine, Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin has always been open to peace talks, but the position of the Ukrainian side has changed, it has made it law, the impossibility of peace talks with Russia.

About the faults in the process of Russia's partial mobilization, Peskov said "the lessons are learned" and the situation is improving.

The spokesperson also said Putin is monitoring how the mobilization is being carried out.

As for the date of the end of mobilization, Peskov said he does not know yet.

Asked about the resignation of U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, Peskov said it is Great Britain's internal affairs, and that he does not expect any changes in London's policy on Russia.

"It is not necessary to expect any epiphany and some political wisdom from anyone in the countries of the collective West, including the U.K. Especially in the U.K., where people do not actually choose the current chief executive, he appears as a result of any party shake-up," he said.

About the Russians arrested in Germany and Italy at the U.S. request, Peskov said Russian diplomats will do everything for the defense of their interests.

"Of course, we are categorically against and condemn the practice of such arrests of Russian citizens," he stressed.