MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent holiday telegrams to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) national leaders, with the exception of Moldova, as well as the heads of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Kremlin press service reported.

Among European leaders, he sent greetings only to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the press service said. The Russian president also sent heartfelt messages to the leaders of China, India, Vietnam, Laos, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Syria, Turkey and South Africa.

The Russian president also sent greetings to Pope Francis and a number of former foreign leaders, including ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. He did not send greetings to any leaders of unfriendly states, including the US.