MOSCOW
Russian Presidential aide Yury Ushakov said Tuesday that representatives of the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump have yet to contact their Russian counterparts, despite numerous statements from Washington suggesting an intent to initiate dialogue.
“As of now, no one has contacted the Russian presidential administration on this matter,” Ushakov said at a news conference briefing in Moscow. “We read in the media and see on television that the administration is preparing for dialogue with Russia. There have even been reports that President Trump has instructed his team to establish contact with Russian representatives,” he said. “We are ready.”
Addressing talks earlier that day between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Ushakov disclosed that the two leaders discussed various international issues.
“Among regional topics, the leaders focused on the Asia-Pacific region, the Korean Peninsula, and the Middle East, particularly in light of the agreement between Israel and Hamas,” he said.
Ushakov dismissed speculation that the Putin-Xi discussions were scheduled to coincide with Trump’s inauguration as a gesture of solidarity. He explained that the meeting date had been set in December, long before the US presidential inauguration was considered a factor.
Nevertheless, the leaders did touch on the situation in Ukraine and broader Russia-China relations, factoring in the impending Trump administration, according to Ushakov.
Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday made no mention of Russia or Ukraine. Instead, the Republican president declared that America’s power would enable it to “end all wars” and foster global unity.
