According to Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Russia is open to interaction in the Arctic, if the EU’s new security policy in the region implies cooperation rather than confrontation. 

Somewhat earlier, the EU’s Kaja Kallas told a news conference in Norway that the EU was working to upgrade the allied strategy for the Arctic that would reflect the changed security situation.

“If the EU representatives mean a new policy directed at international cooperation, this can be welcomed. But if they mean confrontation, which is currently a fad in Brussels, we would hardly be able to welcome this and this is unlikely to have any positive effect,” Dmitry Peskov said.

He stressed that it was Russia that was an Arctic state, unlike many countries of Europe.

“This is our region. We are an Arctic state, unlike the overwhelming majority of EU countries. But we are open to cooperation and interaction,” he noted.