Moscow: The Kremlin said on Monday that the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unlikely to bring an improvement in relations between Moscow and London. Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Starmer would not be remembered in Russia for any efforts to improve bilateral ties.

According to Anadolu Agency, Peskov expressed skepticism about whether relations would improve following Starmer’s departure. He noted that it was unlikely that anyone on Britain’s political scene would have a position on bilateral relations that significantly differed from Keir Starmer’s.

Turning to Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, Peskov said that authorities were working to mitigate the effects and ensure fuel supplies to residents. His comments came as authorities announced restrictions on fuel sales at gas stations, with supplies in some regions temporarily reserved for state services responsible for public safety and essential operations. Peskov mentioned that the government was coordinating with oil companies and taking measures to address the situation.

The Kremlin spokesman added that President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko planned to hold talks in the near future, providing an opportunity to discuss threats made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky toward Belarus. Peskov characterized Zelenskyy’s statements as interference in the internal affairs of another country and said Russia had no doubt that Belarus was capable of safeguarding its sovereignty.

Peskov also confirmed that contacts had taken place between Russian and Serbian counterparts regarding the future of Serbia’s oil company NIS, in which Russia’s Gazprom holds a stake. He said discussions were commercial in nature and declined to disclose details. Russian energy assets linked to NIS have faced pressure from US sanctions imposed on the company’s Russian shareholders.