The Russian Presidency on Wednesday called on «not to exaggerate» the importance of the mid-term elections in the United States for the state of bilateral relations, amid tensions arising from the invasion of Ukraine.
«We are carefully analyzing the information that emerges (in connection with the elections,» said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who acknowledged that the ‘midterms’ «are important,» Russian news agency Interfax reported.
However, he has asked «not to make a mistake» and has stated that «it is not necessary to exaggerate the importance of the elections for the short and medium-term future of bilateral relations». «These elections will not change anything in an essential way. Relations are bad and will continue to be bad,» he argued.
Peskov has also pointed out that the Kremlin «is used to» US accusations of «interference» in its electoral system, days after Russian oligarch Yevgeni Prigozhin, close to the country’s president, Vladimir Putin, and founder of the Wagner Group, acknowledged having «interfered» in the past in democratic processes in the United States.
In response, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Prigozhin’s comments «say nothing new or surprising, as we all know.» «It is well known and well documented publicly that entities associated with Yevgeni Prigozhin have attempted to influence elections around the world, including in the United States,» she said.
