Kremlin threatens to 'expand buffer zone' against Ukraine after fuel infrastructure collapse

Peskov said Moscow sees "certain delusions in the White House administration, delusions that escalation and military pressure can help pave the way toward a peace settlement."

"This is a flawed judgment," he said.

Peskov said further escalation would likely prolong Russia's war against Ukraine to some degree. He said he could not specify by how much, but claimed Russia would "have to create a larger security zone, a big buffer zone."

Despite U.S. plans to grant Kyiv a license to produce Patriot missiles and President Donald Trump's stated support for Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory, Peskov said the Kremlin still views Washington's stated desire to facilitate a peace settlement as sincere.

Earlier that day, Telegram channels reported that fires broke out at oil depots in Tver and Stavropol Krai following drone attacks overnight into July 9. Russian authorities confirmed fires "at industrial facilities."

Telegram channels also reported that drones struck an oil refinery in the town of Kirishi, in Leningrad Oblast.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed that Ukraine's Defense Forces had struck two oil depots in Stavropol and Tver, located roughly 310 miles (500 kilometers) from the front line.

Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian forces "applied sanctions" to an oil pumping station in Ufa, located nearly 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) from Ukraine's border.

An oil terminal in Rostov Oblast, roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) from the front line, was also struck.