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'Deplorable state' of Russian-US relations requires communication - Kremlin

The format of its implementation has not been determined yet, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday

DA NANG /Vietnam/, November 11. /TASS/. The poor state of affairs plaguing Russia-US relations require bilateral communication, but its format has not been determined yet, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday.

"There is an understanding that the deplorable condition of bilateral relations, and the mounting crises in both international and bilateral relations require communication and talks," Peskov said. "We realize it and this understanding was reaffirmed. However, I cannot say yet how it will be implemented."
A source familiar with the situation told reporters that the two leaders met many times at the APEC summit in Vietnam. Nevertheless, a full-fledged meeting had never taken place as it could not have been arranged, particularly due to protocol reasons.

"Certain diplomatic tenets" governed the APEC summit and "despite attempts made over many days, the Americans had offered neither an alternative time nor place," the source said.
Commenting on the failed prospects for a full-fledged meeting between the leaders, Peskov pointed out that its absence had been compensated by numerous contacts between Putin and Trump on the sidelines of the Vietnam summit.

"There were some retreats and there was a dinner," he said. "While on the move, before and after retreats, they had opportunities to share views and that is what they did."

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