MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. Incumbent US President Barack Obama remains Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s counterpart until Donald Trump takes office, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
"Keep in mind that incumbent US president Obama still remains president Putin’s counterpart," he said when asked whether Putin planned to establish closer contacts with the US president-elect or was he just keeping to sending a congratulatory telegram.
Peskov stressed that Russia would have to work with the current administration in a few months to come.
"Or rather, we’ll try to work," he elaborated. "Unfortunately, as you may know, the level of our relations is not living up to Russia’s expectations." According to Peskov, the telegram of greetings sent to Trump by Putin "is in line with the common diplomatic practice."
The Kremlin spokesman added that a report was presented to Putin on the outcome of the US presidential election, but Putin wasn’t following the race "glued to the screen.".