Briefing reporters on the Putin-Xi telephone call, Presidential aide, Yuri Ushakov, noted that there was still no response from the U.S. regarding President Putin’s proposal for maintaining the limits of the New START treaty for another year, as the treaty runs out on February 5. The intensive series of meetings between the two countries over the last few days is undoubtedly oriented toward coordination of policy as we enter into this uncertain situation without a nuclear arms treaty.
Ushakov said that the two leaders had a “truly warm, truly friendly” conversation, wishing each other success and prosperity in the New Year and the Lunar New Year, soon to begin. The discussion lasted one and a half hours, Ushakov said. The two leaders “once again confirmed that the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between the two countries is at an unprecedented level, is equal and mutually beneficial, and is not directed against anyone and is not subject to any changes in the circumstances.”
They discussed relations with the United States. “Our approaches here are practically identical,” Ushakov said. “This is expressed, for example, in our assessments of the US President’s initiative to create a Board of Peace.” They also discussed the international situation. “We paid serious attention to the most pressing international issues, especially now, when an extremely tense and explosive situation has developed in a number of regions of the world.”
