MOSCOW

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted on Thursday that Russia's revenues from energy resource sales declined by half compared to 2025.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov argued that the losses were offset by other revenues and that the Russian economy remains stable.

"Indeed, there is a drop in oil and gas revenues, partially offset by an increase in non-oil and gas revenues," he said.

On Feb. 6, the Russian Finance Ministry announced that federal budget revenues in January were 50.2% lower than in the same period of 2025.

Additionally, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov stated that the share of income from energy resource sales in the federal budget could drop to 20% in 2026.

Western countries have intensified efforts to target Russia's energy exports over the past year, including imposing additional sanctions on tankers carrying oil and gas, raising insurance costs, and banning port entries.

Peskov confirmed the existence of a budget deficit but described the difficulties as temporary, adding that "macroeconomic stability allows us to solve it by taking the necessary measures."

He noted that President Vladimir Putin "keeps his finger on the pulse" and regularly discusses the budget deficit and its financing with the government and the Central Bank.

"In general, the stability of the Russian economy is absolutely guaranteed. It ensures the ability of the state to fulfill all social obligations and also to shape the agenda of economic development, despite certain difficulties that no one is immune from," he said.

Turning to the US-led Board of Peace, Peskov said the Russian Foreign Ministry is preparing its assessments of the structure.

"The Foreign Ministry is still formulating a position," he said. "A number of states, including those that are friendly to us, have a very ambiguous position. They are all taken into account."

The Board of Peace was officially established on Jan. 22, when 19 countries signed its charter in Davos.

Initially, the structure was created to govern the Gaza Strip within the framework of agreements between Israel and Hamas, a format approved by the UN. However, Washington is actively promoting the idea of using the council to prevent and resolve conflicts in other regions.