Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Washington and US outlets feared a Russian attack.
“To our dismay, the US media has recently been publishing a large amount of unverified, distorted and intentionally fraudulent information about what is happening in and around Ukraine,” Peskov said on Monday.
Zelensky, However, he reiterated his position that the threat from Russia remains “dangerous but unclear” and it is not certain that an attack will occur, the official said.
On Monday, Peskov called on the US and its European allies to “take a more constructive approach” and said the recent threat of sanctions from the United Kingdom is “extremely worrying”.
“This is a cause for serious concern for international financial structures and businesses,” Peskov said. “This is an open attack on business.”
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said this weekend that Britain would introduce new legislation to broaden sanctions and target specific individuals close to the Kremlin if Russia invades Ukraine.
A senior administration official told CNN that the Biden administration has also identified several elite Russian government officials and business leaders whom Russia wants to sanction to the US for attacking Ukraine.
“In general, the Anglo-Saxons are increasing tensions widely on the European continent,” Peskov said.
Diplomatic efforts are on to defuse the situation.
On Monday Peskov declined to offer a specific time frame for Putin’s response to the documents. “I can’t tell you the exact date as soon as he thinks it’s necessary,” he said.
United Nations Security Council meeting
The United Nations Security Council will gather later on Monday to discuss the crisis.
The US called for the meeting – which will be the first place at the United Nations where both American and Russian officials speak about what is happening – in a statement on Thursday.
Members of the Security Council “should thoroughly examine the facts and consider what stakes for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe and for Russia, in advancing Ukraine’s core obligations and principles of the international order.” is on.” must attack,” said US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, “this is not a moment to wait and see.”
The council consists of 15 members, each of whom has one vote. According to the United Nations website, it is “responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security”.
“It calls upon the parties to settle the dispute peacefully and recommend methods of adjustment or terms of settlement,” the website reads. “In certain cases, the Security Council may resort to the imposition of sanctions or may also authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.”
Each member country of the United Nations has to abide by the decisions of the Council.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba called on Russia to demonstrate its commitment to avoid conflict.
“If Russian officials are serious when they say they do not want a new war, Russia should continue diplomatic engagement and withdraw its military forces to Ukraine’s borders and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.” He wrote on Twitter. “Diplomacy is the only responsible way.”
Also on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov blamed NATO’s eastern expansion.
Lavrov rejected the suggestion that NATO was a defensive organization.
“The line of defense has already drawn close to us,” Lavrov said on Russia’s Channel One evening show on Sunday.
“It turns out every time that the line they have to defend is moving further east. Now, it’s already closer to Ukraine.”
CNN’s Katya Krebs, Arnaud Siad, Kylie Atwood and Vasco Cottovio contributed to this report.