Russia Says 'No Comment' on Trump Team Contacts
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russia's deputy foreign minister on Saturday declined to comment on reported calls between US president-elect Donald Trump's incoming national security adviser and Moscow's ambassador to Washington.
Asked to comment on the reported calls, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that "we don't comment on daily working contacts of our embassy or foreign ministry representatives with colleagues from other countries, including the United States."
US media reported that Flynn telephoned Moscow's ambassador to Washington Sergei Kislyak, several times on Dec. 28, accordifg to AFP.
It said Kislyak extended an invitation for the incoming administration to attend peace talks on Syria to be hosted by Russia and Turkey in Kazakhstan, which are planned for Jan. 23, three days after Trump's inauguration.
Trump's incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, said the pair spoke by phone on Dec. 28 about "the logistics of setting up a call with the president of Russia and the president-elect after he was sworn in, and they exchanged logistical information on how to initiate and schedule that call."
He added: "That was it. Plain and simple."
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that invitations to attend the peace talks in Astana were likely to be sent out next week, with both Turkey and Russia agreeing that the United States should be involved.
