Kremlin spokesman expects changes in Washington's position toward Eastern Ukraine
Press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stated in an interview with Vesti.ru on January 21 that the Kremlin expects changes of “modality” in the USA’s position regarding settlement of the conflict in the East of Ukraine.
“In what direction will it change, how it will transform, will the new modality of the USA’s position regarding Ukraine contribute to the settlement - we will see very soon,” Peskov said.
He expressed hope for “a constructive position” of the new U.S. Administration while criticizing the previous one. Peskov recalled former Vice President Joseph Biden’s visit to Kiev on January 16. “It will depend on the position of “new” Americans because the “old” ones went to Kiev instead of visiting the inauguration of their future President. The carriage will turn into a pumpkin soon, the clock will strike midnight. And they rushed to Kiev to secure their position of absolute blindness on the perimeter and focusing on Kiev with a different kind of sponsorship, provocations on the border from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and so on. Such a position is not constructive,” Peskov said.
When answering the question about whether the new U.S. President Donald Trump is an “insider” for Russia, Peskov said “He is not our person. This person is American.” As for the idea that future relations between Moscow and Washington would be free of controversy and dispute, Peskov thought it to be a delusion.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who was just recently sworn into office, repeatedly spoke positively of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also suggested the probability of reducing sanctions against Russia caused by its annexation of Crimea and its support of separatists in the East of Ukraine. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supporting pro-Russian separatists in Donbas. Moscow denies these accusations, stating that there are no Russian servicemen in Donbas, only “volunteers.”