• The Kremlin has praised Trump's new national security strategy for aligning with Russian interests.
• Russia welcomes the recognition of Europe facing "civilizational erasure" within the document.
• Moscow finds the softened stance towards Russia encouraging particularly regarding NATO expansion.
• Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned about the influence of the US "deep state" on foreign policy.

The Kremlin has lauded President Donald Trump's new national security strategy, indicating it is “largely consistent” with Russia's own perceptions of global affairs. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed that the recent adjustments made in the US strategy document align well with Russian expectations, emphasizing a shared interest in negotiating an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Peskov remarked, “The adjustments that we see correspond in many ways to our vision,” which reflects a significant shift in US rhetoric regarding Russia, previously characterized as a direct threat, according to aa, Reuters, and HuffPost.

This new strategy articulates a vision described as "flexible realism" and warns that Europe is facing what it terms "civilizational erasure." Additionally, it refocuses the US's strategic interests, calling for efforts to restore stability with Russia and suggesting that NATO's expansion should be curtailed, as highlighted by Peskov's positive reception of this aspect of the document. Notably, he stated it was encouraging to see a shift away from a narrative that positions NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

Peskov also expressed caution, highlighting the difference between Trump's vision and what he termed the US "deep state," which he suggested may hold opposing views on foreign relations. This criticism underscores a growing tension between Trump's administration and entrenched interests within the US government. Critics argue that such a "deep state" does not exist and that Trump’s rhetoric is a conspiracy theory meant to consolidate power, according to Al Jazeera and HuffPost.

The overall strategy further denotes the Indo-Pacific as a critical geopolitical battleground and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong military presence in the region to deter potential conflicts, particularly regarding China and Taiwan. This shift adds another layer of complexity to US-Russia relations, which have already been strained by sanctions and geopolitical maneuvering since Russia's annexation of Crimea, noted by Peskov and recognized in analyses of the new strategy, as reported by Reuters and Channel News Asia.