Kremlin says EU defence spending pledge was based on the false idea of a threat from Russia

MOSCOW, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that a pledge by European Union leaders to do more to bolster their defences against Russia by hiking spending was based on an "ephemeral threat" from Moscow and that European economies would suffer as a result.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was referring to the outcome of an EU meeting on Monday which also spoke of filling gaps in the EU's military capabilities.