The people of Western nations have been subjected to anti-Russian rhetoric for decades, and it will take time for attitudes to change, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
In an interview broadcast by the TV channel ‘Rossiya 1’ on Sunday, Peskov argued that some countries, including Germany and the Baltic states, have been using “Russophobia” as a means of diverting public attention from domestic issues.
“Their economic problems are obvious. The competitiveness of the famous German industry is declining. The cost of living is rising. The economic and social pressure is increasing,” which has prompted some some European leaders prefer to make a “bogeyman” out of Russia, the spokesman claimed.
He went on to say that “this Russophobia will have some inertia” and in “several decades it will likely pass.”
"Right now, Russophobia is at its peak. It will go down… It will happen someday, and common sense will gradually prevail."
Many Western countries have imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow in response to its military operation in Ukraine, launched in February 2022. In addition to trade and financial restrictions, Russia has been barred from major cultural and sporting events.
In November, President Vladimir Putin said “Russophobia” has become the de facto “official ideology of the Western ruling elites.”
Last month, the Russian State Duma drafted a bill that would criminalize discrimination against Russian nationals living abroad, and “public incitement to extremism by international officials and public organizations.”