# EU needs Russia as an ‘external enemy’ to collect more taxes, Kremlin says

https://mins.news/en/item/37528

- TASS, 2026-08-30 12:22 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://tass.com/politics/2179489

> Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said European authorities are portraying Russia as an “external enemy” to persuade voters to fund their defense capabilities through higher taxes, rent, electricity and gasoline costs. He said voters dislike the burden, making a large and powerful enemy the most convincing justification.