Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
–
“It is too early to talk about this meeting in a concrete plan, it is a new proposal, and it will be studied, an analysis will be made,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The leaders of the USA and Russia have agreed that the topic of preparation for such a meeting will be evaluated through diplomatic channels, Peskov said.
Commenting on what issues might be raised at such a summit, Peskov said they were “undoubtedly bilateral relations”, without mentioning anything closer to a possible agenda.
U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated again in recent weeks, with Russia concentrating large armed forces near Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have urged Russia to withdraw its forces close to Ukraine.
“We consider all concerns, no matter what the US, including the deployment of our troops on Russian territory, to be unfounded,” Peskov said.
On the territory of Ukraine “de-escalation can take place only if the Ukrainian armed forces give up provocative actions,” he added.
The already strained relations were exacerbated when the United States demanded the release of Alexei Navalny, the leader of the Russian opposition, from prison and imposed new sanctions on Moscow for poisoning Navalny.
Peskov said that Navalny had not been discussed in Putin’s and Biden’s telephone conversation.
The Kremlin said the leaders’ talks focused on Ukraine, as well as Iran’s nuclear program, Afghanistan peace talks and climate change.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Salivan was summoned to the Kremlin on Wednesday, saying Washington should refrain from imposing new sanctions on Moscow if it wants to improve bilateral relations, a spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry told AFP.
Peskov, on the other hand, informed that Salivan had met with Yuri Ushakov, Purin’s foreign policy adviser, but this did not mean that preparations for the bilateral summit had begun.
“The discussions were about the fact that the announced initiatives require appropriate action,” Peskov said.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Moscow declined to comment.
–
