MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. The hotline between the Russian and US presidents remains in place, and video communication can also be utilized if necessary, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated at a news briefing.

He pointed out that under the previous US president, Joe Biden, these communication channels were largely idle.

"There has long been direct communication and a hotline between the US and Russian presidents, as well as video communication when needed. This has been available to both heads of state for a considerable time. The previous US administration practically did not make use of this resource," Peskov said.

The Washington-Moscow hotline was established following the Cuban Missile Crisis to facilitate emergency communication between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States. It began operating on August 30, 1963. During the Cold War, the hotline effectively served its purpose in urgent situations. However, in recent years, the presidents of Russia and the United States have opted for direct telephone communication when necessary. In 2016, media reports indicated that then-US president, Barack Obama allegedly used the "red telephone" to discuss concerns regarding cyber interference in the US election. The Kremlin, however, denied this claim, stating that the conversation took place over a regular encrypted line.