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Kremlin welcomes US removal of Russia as ‘direct threat’ from National Security Strategy

Sunday, 07 December 2025 9:30 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 07 December 2025 10:00 AM ]

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (file photo)

The Kremlin has described the US administration’s decision to omit Russia from its list of direct security threats as a constructive shift from the confrontational stance of previous American policies.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that the change in the US National Security Strategy (NSS) under President Donald Trump, which no longer lists Russia as a “direct threat,” is a welcome step.

“The messages for Russia-US relations sent by the administration of US President Donald Trump differ markedly from approaches of previous administrations … These messages are certainly in contrast with approaches of previous administrations,” Peskov added.

The Kremlin plans to review the updated US security strategy in detail to analyze its provisions, Peskov emphasized, adding, “Certainly, it should be considered, analyzed in more detail.”

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On Thursday, Trump released the 2025 NSS, which prioritizes his “America First” policies.

Unlike the 2022 NSS under former President Joe Biden, which mentioned Russia 71 times and portrayed it as a threat, the 2025 document does not single out Russia at all.

The 2022 NSS repeatedly cited China and Russia, making unsubstantiated claims that they posed a danger to global stability.

In the case of Russia, the document blamed Moscow for the Ukraine conflict without evidence, while ignoring Europe’s destabilizing role in the region and its contribution to political tensions near Russia’s borders.

In contrast, the 2025 NSS acknowledges that negotiating “an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine” is in the US’s interest, but notes that Washington “finds itself at odds with European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war perched in unstable minority governments.”

The document also places its sharpest criticism on Europe, stating that “larger issues facing Europe include activities of the European Union [EU] and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty.”

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