Kremlin: Russia's military will retaliate if attacked

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Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned on Thursday that if the Russian military is attacked with an individual holding a weapon, they would instantly become a target. The statement came amid Kiev's decision to allow all Ukrainian residents to hold weapons during martial law. 

According to the official, the Russian military forces are forced to return fire due to the robust armed opposition of Ukrainian nationalist battalions.

"Therefore, of course, if someone attacks our military with weapons in their hands, then they will also become targets, of course," Peskov told reporters.

Moreover, the Kremlin so far is not aware of what happened with the maternity hospital in Mariupol, Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, adding that the military will provide such information.

"We will definitely ask our military, because, of course, we do not have clear information about what happened there, and for sure, the military will provide some information," Peskov told reporters.

Russia's pullout from the European Council

Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe indicates the country's withdrawal from all its institutions, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia would not participate "in the transformation by NATO and the EU obediently following them" of the oldest European organization into another platform "about Western superiority and narcissism."

"Naturally, withdrawal from the Council of Europe implies withdrawal from all mechanisms," Peskov told reporters, commenting on the Ministry's statement.

Regarding the conditions under which Russia can return to the Council of Europe, Peskov redirected the question to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Economic war against Russia unprecedented

Peskov continued to explain that the economic war that is waged against Russia is unprecedented, and prognoses on price increases should not be made.

"That is, there was no such economic war that began against our country. Therefore, it is very difficult to predict something. Now we must not predict, but act, act to minimize the negative consequences and further risks," Peskov told reporters, adding that the situation will stabilize.