Kremlin Welcomes US Strategy Shift, Drops 'Direct Threat' Label for Russia

US Administration Revises National Security Strategy

The Russian Federation has welcomed a significant shift in the United States' national security strategy, which no longer labels Russia as a 'direct threat.' The revised policy, unveiled by President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday, December 4, 2025, and announced on Friday, December 5, 2025, signals a departure from previous US foreign policy approaches that had designated Moscow as a major adversary.

The new 29-page strategy document outlines President Trump's foreign policy vision as one of 'flexible realism,' prioritizing 'what works for America' and an 'America First' approach. It emphasizes re-establishing 'strategic stability' with Moscow and seeking a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, while still acknowledging Russia's actions in Ukraine as a central security concern.

Kremlin Expresses Positive View

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, stated on Sunday, December 7, 2025, that Moscow views the removal of the 'direct threat' designation as a 'positive step.' Speaking to the state-run TASS news agency, Peskov noted that the updated document encourages cooperation with Russia on strategic stability issues. 'We considered this a positive step,' he was quoted as saying, adding that Moscow intends to 'examine it more closely and analyse it' before drawing broader conclusions.

This sentiment echoes earlier remarks from March 2025, when Peskov indicated that the new US administration's foreign policy changes 'largely align' with Russia's vision.

Shift from Previous US Stances

The revised strategy marks a notable change from prior US national security documents. Since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, US strategies, including the 2022 NSS under President Joe Biden and the 2017 NSS during Trump's first term, had consistently identified Russia as a significant threat, focusing on 'constraining Russia' and 'great power competition.'

The new strategy, however, refrains from characterizing the threat Moscow poses to US interests, instead observing that 'many Europeans regard Russia as an existential threat.' It places a priority on the US-Russia great-power relationship, highlighting areas such as strategic stability and escalation management in Europe.

International Reactions and Concerns

The strategic shift has drawn considerable attention and concern from international observers, particularly European allies. Many have voiced apprehension that a softer US stance could undermine ongoing efforts to confront Moscow amid the continuing conflict in Ukraine.

The new NSS has also sparked backlash in Europe due to its critical tone towards allies, accusing them of holding 'unrealistic expectations' regarding the war in Ukraine and suggesting that some European governments are 'trampling on basic principles of democracy.' The document controversially suggests that Europe faces 'civilizational erasure' due to migration and declining birthrates. Experts have noted that the strategy lacks a serious analysis of global dynamics and fails to adequately recognize Russia as a revisionist power.