IN BRIEF: Kremlin comments on pending Putin-Trump call, prospects of Ukraine settlement

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not receive any messages from US leader Donald Trump on his birthday, a TASS correspondent quoted Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

TASS has compiled key statements from the Russian presidential spokesman.

On communication between Putin, Trump

President Putin did not receive any messages from the US leader on his 74th birthday yesterday, Peskov said: "There were no congratulatory messages from Trump."

The exact timing of a potential Putin-Trump phone call has yet to be coordinated, the Kremlin spokesman told reporters: "As soon as the exact timing of a conversation is agreed and it [the phone call] takes place, we will let you know. We will not conceal anything."

Meanwhile, there has been no delay in arranging such a call, Peskov noted: "There has been no delay at all. As soon as [a Putin-Trump call] is agreed, and contacts take place, [we will let you know]."

On prospects for an Ukraine settlement

Moscow is grateful to New Delhi for its interest in having the Ukraine conflict resolved, according to Peskov: "We are very grateful to the Indians for the interest they have shown in a settlement. We welcome any attempts, any efforts from countries that can somehow contribute to resolving the situation around Ukraine or somehow help urge the Kiev regime and, most importantly, the Europeans to bring it onto a peaceful track."

No peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict is in sight for the time being, he lamented: "No such thing is in sight at this point."

Russia is convinced that a settlement in Ukraine must be comprehensive, while piecemeal measures will not suffice, Peskov maintained: "We have repeatedly stated that piecemeal solutions and agreements will not enable us to reach a comprehensive settlement. It is a very complex matter, and the settlement must be comprehensive."

Russia believes that agreements regarding Ukraine must be guaranteed for generations to come and safeguarded against collapse, he continued: "We need a solution for future generations -- one that is guaranteed and safeguarded against collapse. The president has repeatedly spoken about this, including at the [recent] Valdai forum."

Freezing the Ukrainian conflict will not help resolve it, Peskov argued: "Let’s put it this way: a temporary halt or a freeze won’t help either."

On Iran potentially exiting NPT

The possibility of Tehran pulling out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) may be raised at talks between President Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the upcoming CIS summit, the Kremlin spokesman said: "If Iran finds it necessary to brief us of it and if these plans are really being implemented, then [the issue] will certainly [be brought up at the meeting]. However, it’s crucial to understand if this is really [on the agenda], because we have heard statements from lawmakers. Those aren’t always, say, in line with the country’s actual foreign policy plans."

On CIS

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has proved to be beneficial for its member countries in decades of its history, Peskov maintained: "The CIS format itself has proved to be beneficial to its member countries and quite relevant for more than a decade of its history."

It has been a platform for more advanced integration processes, he said: "The CIS format has paved the way for more advanced forms of integration, which is also very important."

Putin will meet with all participants in the upcoming CIS summit in Turkmenistan on the sidelines of the event, Peskov announced: "The president will have [an opportunity] to communicate with all other participants on the sidelines of these cultural events tonight. It means that he will talk with almost everyone on the sidelines [of the summit]."