Kremlin confirms failed attempt at secret contact between Putin’s adviser and British government
12 November 16:18
The Kremlin has confirmed that earlier this year, one telephone conversation took place between Russian Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov and British National Security Advisor Jonathan Pavell.
This was reported by the Financial Times, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the newspaper, the call was intended to open a confidential channel of communication with Moscow, but the negotiations ended without result.
What the Kremlin says
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the conversation, but said that “the exchange of views did not continue.”
According to him, the British side “was very eager to explain the position of the Europeans, but was not ready to listen to the Russian side.”
“Without the possibility of a mutual exchange of views, the conversation could not continue,” Peskov said.
What they say in London
According to the FT, the call was a London initiative supported by some European allies. The reason for this is the fear that Donald Trump’s unpredictable stance on Ukraine could push the EU’s interests into the background.
One European official noted:
“We are worried that the actual negotiations with the Russians have been handed over to the Americans.”
The British Prime Minister’s office said that “such diplomatic contacts are normal” but declined to comment further.
Last month , the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.
