Kremlin hails Washington’s new NSS as aligned with Moscow — says drop in “direct threat” label is welcome
The Russian government, via Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, has publicly welcomed the recently released US National Security Strategy, saying the document “largely accords” with Russia’s own worldview — including the decision to remove Russia from a list of “direct threats.”
In a rare show of approval, Moscow described the re-characterisation of Russia — from adversarial threat to potential partner under “strategic stability” talks — as a “positive step.”
What the US Strategy Says — And Why It Matters
A policy reset under “flexible realism”
The 2025 US NSS abandons some of the more adversarial language of previous versions. Notably, Russia is no longer singled out as a direct threat. Instead, the document focuses on conflict resolution, including ending the war in Ukraine via negotiated settlement and restoring broader strategic stability.
Under the new NSS, the United States signals a shift from global leadership-by-intervention toward pragmatic diplomacy: “what works for America” over ideological enforcement.
Europe, NATO, and global realignment
The document also criticizes what it calls the risk of “civilizational erosion” in Europe, marks the Indo-Pacific as a critical geopolitical zone, and calls for a reconsideration of military alliances and global influence strategies.
In doing so, it moves away from the US repeatedly branding Russia as a destabilising aggressor — a narrative that has held since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
Kremlin’s Reaction: Warm but Cautious
Peskov hailed the new NSS as echoing many of Russia’s own global-security views. The end of the “direct threat” label, he said, is constructive and opens the door for strategic cooperation.
At the same time, he warned about scrutiny from what he described as the US “deep state” — long-standing institutions and bureaucracies that, in his view, may resist a sweeping departure from prior US policy.
This combination of cautious optimism reflects Moscow’s long-standing concern over Washington’s reliability — even when rhetoric appears to shift.
Implications for Global Diplomacy, Ukraine War & Europe
For Ukraine war prospects
By emphasising a negotiated end to hostilities with Russia as a “core” US interest, the new NSS could reshape diplomatic momentum on the Ukraine war. This raises expectations in Moscow about renewed negotiations, while European allies may view the shift with mistrust.
For NATO and European security architecture
Moscow has long opposed NATO expansion. The NSS’s language about ending NATO’s perpetual-expansion mindset — and focusing on cooperation rather than confrontation — strengthens Russia’s strategic narrative.
For European nations relying heavily on US-backed security guarantees, this may produce anxiety about long-term commitment — especially amid concerns that Russia emboldened by softer US posture may act more aggressively.
For Indo-Pacific and global strategic balance
The NSS places renewed emphasis on the Indo-Pacific, China, Taiwan, and regional military balance. For Russia — which has deepened ties with China recently — this could accelerate Moscow’s pivot toward Asia, potentially reinforcing the emergent Russia–China axis.
Background: Why This Marks a Major Shift
Since 2014 (post-Crimea) and especially after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, successive US strategies branded Russia as a leading global threat, central to instability in Europe and beyond.
The 2025 NSS is the first since the Cold War to substantially revise that framing. It removes explicit condemnations of Russia, ends the “direct threat” label, and calls for renewed diplomacy — a shift Moscow sees as vindication of its postures.
For many analysts, this marks a recalibration of US global priorities — away from confrontation toward transactional diplomacy.
What Comes Next: Uncertain but Critical
- Will the US and Russia genuinely pursue strategic stability talks — or will bureaucratic resistance within the US hamper efforts (as Kremlin insinuates)?
- How will European allies react — will they deepen defense cooperation independent of Washington, or seek new alliances?
- For the ongoing war in Ukraine: will Moscow use this diplomatic window to negotiate a compromise — or dig in deeper?
- Will Russia’s pivot to Asia (and deeper ties with China) accelerate, challenging existing global alignments?
The coming weeks and months could prove decisive for reshaping 21st-century diplomacy, alliances and global stability.
