MOSCOW 

Russian special services are always on guard and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of those under state protection, including President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday in response to claims of an assassination plot.

Peskov made these remarks during a press conference in Moscow in response to claims made by American journalist Tucker Carlson on his popular TV show that the US leadership had plotted an assassination attempt on Russia's leader.​​​​​​​

"Russian special services are continuously implementing all required actions to guarantee public safety and, of course, the security of individuals under state protection, foremost the head of state," Peskov emphasized.

Carlson claimed that former US President Joe Biden's administration was involved in a plot to assassinate Vladimir Putin.

Regarding the extension of EU sanctions against Russia, the Kremlin spokesman said there are no surprises, as the EU continues its sanctions policy.

"We still regard these as illegal restrictions that violate international law. In this regard, nothing has changed," he said, adding that European sanctions are hurting European economies as well.

"More and more people in Europe are realizing that these sanctions act as a double-edged sword, causing harm to Europeans themselves," Peskov stressed.

On the future of energy cooperation between the EU and Russia, Peskov said Moscow remains interested in continuing gas supplies to Europe and is closely monitoring related negotiations.

"This is commerce. Russia is committed to maintaining this trade. Hungary, in particular, has expressed certain conditions tied to the Kyiv regime for extending sanctions. It seems Brussels has provided assurances about resuming some form of negotiations. We will keep a close watch on this matter," he explained.

He further highlighted that Russian gas is not only competitive but "significantly more profitable for European buyers" compared to American alternatives.

When asked about reports that Russian Su-35 fighter jets are being supplied to Iran, the Kremlin spokesman declined to comment.

However, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps General Ali Shadmani, who is also deputy chief of the Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, announced earlier on Tuesday that Tehran has acquired the jets, though the number of aircraft purchased is not disclosed.

Reports from November 29, 2024, indicated that the Iranian Air Force had already received two Su-35SE fighters from Russia as part of a program to replace its aging fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats.

Peskov also commented on the recent detention of a ship with a Russian crew, the Baltic Summer, by Spanish and American intelligence off the coast of Portugal.

"I don’t have the details. It’s necessary to consult the Foreign Ministry or the Ministry of Transport to determine whether the detention was justified or not. Our services will undoubtedly investigate this incident," he stated.

According to media reports, the Baltic Summer, sailing under the Bahamas flag, was en route from Ecuador to St. Petersburg with a crew of 23, the majority of whom were Russian, when it was detained and docked in Vigo, Spain, on January 21, claiming to be carrying a cache of cocaine.

The US Department of Homeland Security, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Spanish Civil Guard carried out a thorough search of the vessel and its containers but found no evidence of prohibited substances.

The crew was subsequently released, and the ship resumed its journey to the destination port.