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Putin's military inspection ahead of talks with Pompeo not a signal to US, Kremlin vows

The Russian president is due to meet with Pompeo on Tuesday

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has castigated a recent assumption - labelling it a “conspiracy theory” - that President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled inspection of a flight test center and military equipment ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo might be a signal to Washington.

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Kremlin announces agenda for Putin’s meeting with Pompeo

"No, this is not so," Peskov said answering a question whether this scheduled program by the president, who is due to meet with Pompeo on Tuesday, could be a message for Washington. The meeting will take place after the Sochi talks between Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“The president deals with military and industrial complex issues twice a year and the goal is to develop the military and industrial complex, rather than to send any signals,” he explained. “No conspiracy theories should be concocted here,” Peskov stressed.

On Tuesday, Putin is planning to visit the town of Akhtubinsk in southern Russia’s Astrakhan Region as part of a string of meetings devoted to developing the military and industrial complex. The head of state is scheduled to visit the 929th Chkalov State Flight-Test Center and inspect various armaments, including several types of Sukhoi and MiG planes, and drones. “The president will also see the latest weapons systems and inspect the Kinzhal advanced missile system,” he said.

Putin is also scheduled to hold a meeting devoted to the development of the Astrakhan Region. Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin and Acting Governor of the Astrakhan Region Sergey Morozov will report to the president.

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