Kremlin calls Trump’s national security strategy ‘imperial’

MOSCOW – The Kremlin has lambasted U.S. President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy as “imperial” but lauded the U.S. for willing to co-operate with Russia in areas of common interest.

The strategy, published on Monday, is harsher on Russia than Trump has been in public comments. It accuses Russia of using “subversive measures” to weaken America’s credibility and European governments.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters on Tuesday that the mentions of Russia struck Moscow as “imperial” and showed “an aversion to a multi-polar world.”

Peskov, however, said Moscow was encouraged by calls to co-operate with Russia in areas that could be beneficial for the U.S.

Putin and Trump talked on the phone twice last week.