Kremlin-Washington Behind Drone Attack

A series of comments from Kremlin spox Dmitri Peskov hit wires. Peskov: 'Washington is definitely behind this attack, we are well aware of this...Attempts by Kyiv and Washington to disown drone incident are absolutely ridiculous...We know decisions about such terrorist acts are taken in Washington, not Kyiv...Kyiv just implements these decisions...We know Washington often selects the targets; Washington should clearly understand that we know this.'

• This sort of language is likely to raise concerns in the West of Russian retaliation not only against Ukraine but against the US or other NATO member, which risks escalating the conflict into a much more widespread conflagration. However, at present there appears no sign that the retaliation has gone beyond the drone strikes on Ukrainian cities overnight.
• Peskov: Putin always remains calm in these situations....no plan for an address, security council meeting or change in tempo of special military operation [the invasion of Ukraine]. However, Security Council to hold a regular meeting on Friday [5 May] and is likely to dicuss drone incident.
• Peskov: Of course air defences will be strengthened, this was happening anyway in context of May 9 Victory Day parade.
• Peskov does not answer question of whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a legitimate target for Russia.