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Putin-Obama meeting on UN General Assembly sidelines not negotiated yet — Kremlin

The American side has not requested a bilateral meeting either

MOSCOW, August 31. /TASS/. Russia has not sent to the White House any request for a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City in September, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on Monday.

"No, Russia has not made [such a request]," he told reporters.

According to Ushakov, the American side has not requested a bilateral meeting either.

He said that Obama would attend and make an address at the UN General Assembly session. However, the Kremlin aide said that New York is not the only international venue where the Russian and U.S. leaders will be present this autumn. Also, a meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) and a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum will be held in November. So, there are venues for contacts.

"The leaders’ meetings are important and always valuable, and naturally, we are not refusing from any contacts, on the contrary, we call for an intensive dialogue with all countries," Ushakov said.

Schedule of Putin’s bilateral meetings in New York not yet agreed

Ushakov noted that the schedule of bilateral meetings for Vladimir Putin in New York is currently being worked out.

"As for the possible bilateral contacts, they are still being worked out," Ushakov told reporters. "We have requests for bilateral meetings," he added.

The specific list will be agreed upon diplomatic channels taking into account the schedule of Putin and the other leaders, Ushakov said.

The presidential aide declined to confirm whether Putin could meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

According to the UN Secretariat, the Ukrainian leader will attend the session that opens next month, he said.

"Indeed, we have now started preparing for the visit of the president to New York for addressing the anniversary session of the UN General Assembly," Ushakov said.

The president is due to take part in the general political discussion, he said. Putin is also expected to attend a lunch in honor of the heads of delegation announced by the UN chief.