Peskov denies contacts between Russian intelligence and Trump campaign team
The Press Secretary for the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Vladimir Putin didn’t discuss the Crimean issue during a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, RIA Novosti reported. “No, the Crimean issue wasn’t raised,” Peskov told journalists in response to the question.
“We have said everything we want to say about the results of the telephone conversation that you mentioned,” the Press Secretary added. “As for the return of the Crimea, this issue will not be discussed because it can’t be discussed. Russia will not discuss issues related to its territory with foreign partners,” Peskov said.
On the 14th of February, White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, stated that Trump expects Russia to find a way to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine and return the Crimea. Dmitry Peskov also denied reports that members of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign were in contact with Russian Intelligence.
“Don’t read morning newspapers. It is not my phrase, but let us not trust the newspaper reports because it is hard to distinguish between what is true and what is fake news,” Putin’s Press Secretary said.
“There are references to five different sources. However, none of them were identified…Probably, there is some information about who these people are. Probably, somebody will openly disclose that when the time is right. Let us wait for this time and not trust such non-specific information,” Dmitry Peskov added. “It is a newspaper report that isn’t based on facts and doesn’t point to any specific facts,” Peskov assured.
U.S. officials, whose names weren’t mentioned, stated in their interview with the New York Times that members of Trump’s presidential campaign allegedly had numerous contacts with high-ranking Russian intelligence officers in 2016 before the U.S. presidential election.