There are no specific plans for a meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden yet, but it is possible if the leaders consider it expedient, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday, noting that there is an agreement to continue dialogue through the foreign ministries of the two countries.
"No, there are no specific plans on this matter yet," the Kremlin spokesman said, referring to the prospects for a summit between Russia and the United States. - "There is an understanding that there will be contacts at the level of foreign ministers. We assume that [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov may meet with his American counterpart [Antony Blinken] this week. We also do not rule out contacts between Russian and French ministers."
"Of course, we do not rule out, and if necessary, of course, the presidents of Russia and the United States can decide at any time on contacts either by phone or in person. It will already be their decision," the Kremlin spokesman said.
Commenting on the Elysee Palace report that Putin and Biden accepted French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to hold a summit on security and strategic stability in Europe, Peskov clarified that "a substantive understanding has been reached that it is necessary to continue [contacts] at the ministerial level." "It is still premature to talk about any specific plans to organize any summits," he stressed.
In response to a clarifying question whether the wording "substantive agreement" meant a high probability of a meeting, the Russian leader's spokesman said that "a meeting is possible if the heads of states consider it expedient." "Now there is a clear, concrete understanding of the need to continue dialogue at the ministerial level," Peskov emphasized.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS