"But anyway, it confirms it anyway... the general attitude of European states towards militarization, to escalate tensions, to confrontation and to rely on confrontational methods of their foreign policy... These are the realities we have to live in. And, of course, all of this forces us to adapt our foreign political approach accordingly," Peskov told reporters.
The work within the EU defense union framework will overlap with the work of the European countries within the NATO framework, the spokesman added.
"Working with Member States and in close coordination with NATO, we will propose a number of Defence Projects of Common European Interest starting with a European Air Shield and cyber defence," von der Leyen said in her election program.
The EU should take into account the global trend towards geostrategic rivalry, in particular with China in its foreign policy, von der Leyen added.
"We have entered an age of geostrategic rivalries. The more aggressive posture and unfair economic competition from China, its 'no- limits' friendship with Russia - and the dynamics of its relationship with Europe – reflect a shift from cooperation to competition... This new reality will endure whatever the outcome of elections across the world in the coming months. Our new foreign and security policy must be designed with this unfiltered reality in mind," the document said.
Responding to a question about the Kremlin's reaction to von der Leyen's statement, the Kremlin spokesman said that her idea of a defense union within the EU signals a shift in the bloc's priorities and imparts a military focus to the European Union.
"Apparently, Mrs. von der Leyen spoke about a change in priorities and the transformation of the EU, giving military overtones to this union," he said.
At the same time, Peskov highlighted that Russia has not posed and does not pose any threat to anyone in the European Union.
"The Russian Federation has not posed and does not pose any threat to anyone in the European Union. It is defending its interests in Ukraine in conditions where the countries of the European Union ruled out any possibility of dialogue or taking Russia's concerns into account. These are the realities in which we have to live. And, of course, all this forces us to configure our foreign political approach accordingly," Peskov said, answering how the Kremlin reacted to the statement of von der Leyen.
NATO Presence in the Black Sea
The large presence of NATO ships in the Black Sea region poses a threat to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding that Russia will take measures to ensure its security.
“The large presence of NATO ships, taking into account both Bulgaria and Romania, the coastal states that are members of the alliance, — of course, this poses additional threats, especially in the current situation,” Peskov told reporters.
"Of course, Russia will take all necessary measures to ensure its own security," Peskov added.
The Kremlin spokesman highlighted that Turkiye quite smoothly fulfills its functions as an administrator in regulating shipping in the region.
"The regime of stay of non-Black Sea states in the Black Sea is quite strictly regulated by the Montreux Convention. Turkiye in this case is the administrator and performs its functions quite smoothly," Peskov told reporters.