Kremlin hails recent Putin–Aliyev phone talks as “warm and necessary”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the conversation between Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Aliyev's birthday on December 24 was "very warm and necessary."

Peskov made the remark during a briefing late the same day, TASS reports. 

Talking about the US-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine, Peskov said: "Russia, following Dmitriev’s trip to the United States, now has the opportunity to formulate its position and continue negotiations through existing channels."

“The United States is well aware of the main parameters of Russia’s position on the Ukrainian settlement,” Peskov told the briefing.

The presidential press secretary declined to comment on media reports about Kyiv’s 20-point peace plan.

He also commented on Poland’s aspirations to join the G20.

“Poland tends, in all formats, to politicise everything and engage in distortion. Poland, in seeking G20 membership, should remember the economic nature of this forum rather than reducing everything to politics,” Peskov said.

According to him, the Kremlin will inform the public if proposals are received to resume dialogue between the leaders of Russia and France.

Peskov added that President Putin will personally take part in the plenary session of the Federation Council.

By Khagan Isayev