Kremlin slams US statement about situation in Mariupol

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The US State Department's accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements about the situation in Mariupol were "disinformation" is false, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday.

On Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Putin that Mariupol had been taken over by Russian forces, but that insurgents remained on the territory of the besieged Azovstal steel complex. According to the State Department, the notion that the city is under Russian control is "misinformation".

"There is not a bit of truth in these [US] statements. We suggest everyone focus on the information that was provided yesterday through the Defense Ministry, which was reported by Defense Minister Shoigu at a meeting with President Putin," Peskov told reporters.

Kremlin: UK's decision to issue license for Russia's Gazprombank is Pragmatic

The UK's decision to grant Gazprombank a license, allowing the Russian bank to handle payments for gas shipments to the EU, is pragmatic, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday.

"It is all purely pragmatic. You know that we do not consider all these sanctions legal, we consider them illegal. And we continue to treat them that way. And this whole situation, which was started by the EU countries, the UK, and the US, and several other countries that have adopted all these sets of restrictions, they, among other things, complicate their lives significantly," Peskov told reporters.

Kremlin: Japan unfriendly country to Russia, difficult to talk about Peace Treaty 

Because Japan has become an unfriendly country to Russia, it is difficult to discuss the continuation of peace treaty negotiations, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday.

"It is obvious that now when Japan has become an unfriendly country and has joined a series of hostile actions against Russia, it is very difficult to talk about the continuation of the negotiation process," Peskov told reporters.

Peskov stated that "all four islands are integral components of Russia" in response to Tokyo's declaration about the southern Kuril Islands.

Kremlin: Putin plans to hold phone conversation with EU’s Michel on Friday 

Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to speak by phone with European Council President Charles Michel on Friday, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"Putin is going to have an international conversation now ... it will be the president of the European Council, Michel. And then, during the day, Putin is scheduled to have a brief meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council," Peskov told reporters.