Russia not to start confrontation with others: Kremlin

Russia has no intention to start any confrontation with other countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared on Wednesday.

He voiced regret over the fact that the West, nevertheless, was reviving the Cold War rhetoric, TASS news agency reported.

"Over the past year, we have witnessed the appearance and revival of Cold War era statements (by Western countries) -- very unconstructive and confrontational," the Kremlin spokesman told reporters. "We voice regret over this fact," he noted.

"Russia has never supported any confrontation in any of its manifestations, on the contrary, we are seeking constructive and mutually beneficial relations and cooperation with our partners," Peskov said.

The presidential spokesman said that he had in mind both "the sanctions rhetoric and the rhetoric connected with threats (addressed to Russia)".

"Russia, of course, rejects such rhetoric," he said, recalling that the Russian president had repeatedly noted that Russia opposed any confrontation.

Peskov cited Vladimir Putin's extensive international contacts as an example of Moscow's determination to seek ways of interaction with other countries - in Italy, in Moscow with the President of Finland, as well as the forthcoming contacts "on the sidelines" of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"All these contacts are not aimed at confrontation, they are aimed at seeking ways to implement the existing projects and launch new cooperation projects," the Kremlin spokesman said.

"It is to be regretted that we hear such rhetoric -- confrontational and aggressive -- addressed to us. Russia has never been a supporter of such sentiments," Peskov said.