The Russian natural gas privileges being given to Armenia are assistance being provided by Russia, stated Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

"The privilege is always on someone's account. That is, the privilege that Armenians receive is always on someone's account, it does not fall from the sky. It is on the account of the Russian Federation. With this, we [i.e. Russia] are making an investment in the development of Armenia," the Kremlin spokesman told reporters.

"It [i.e. Armenia] is a brotherly country, it has been and will remain brotherly [for Russia]. But it is on our account, we should call things by their proper names: this is our aid to Armenia," added the Russian presidential press secretary.

Peskov noted that in the case when Russian natural gas is sold to Europeans for $500-700 per 1,000 cubic meters, no one assists them on the account of their own funds.

"The Americans are helping the Europeans on their—the Europeans’—own account, and in exchange for a lot of money," the Kremlin spokesman added.