The Kremlin stated today that Russia will closely monitor the outcome of the NATO summit in Turkey, noting that a series of “confrontational” statements regarding Russia were made prior to the summit.

“This is an event of great interest, including for us. Of course, we will be monitoring all news and information coming out of Ankara,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

He added that, in the run-up to the summit, a large number of statements regarding Russia had been made. “Unfortunately, these were not statements aimed at constructive engagement and dialogue, but rather statements of a confrontational nature,” he said, without providing further details.

Peskov was also asked about the statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine. Yesterday, Trump stated that he would address the war in Ukraine during his meetings at the NATO summit today and tomorrow, and that a solution to the war that has been raging in Ukraine for more than four years “is closer than people realize.”

Peskov stated that Russia hopes that U.S. “efforts to steer the entire situation toward a path of peace will ultimately succeed. At least we, as the Russian president has repeatedly stated, remain open to this.”