MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. The Kremlin has denied US media reports that Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak allegedly discussed the issue of anti-Russia sanctions with President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn prior to the inauguration.
When asked whether the Russian ambassador had indeed discussed the sanctions issue with Trump’s adviser, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said his understanding is that "there were certain conversations (between Flynn and Kislyak)", though "it is better to double check the information in the Foreign Ministry." "Other than that the information is not correct," he added.
On Thursday, the Washington Post wrote with reference to current and former US officials that Michael Flynn privately discussed U.S. sanctions against Moscow with Russian ambassador to the United States "during the month before President Trump took office, contrary to public assertions by Trump officials."
Flynn’s communications with Sergey Kislyak "were interpreted by some senior US officials as an inappropriate and potentially illegal signal to the Kremlin that it could expect a reprieve from sanctions," the newspaper wrote.
According to the Washington Post, "Flynn urged Russia not to overreact to the penalties being imposed by President Barack Obama, making clear that the two sides would be in position to review the matter after Trump was sworn in as president." The FBI is continuing to examine Flynn’s communications with Kislyak, the newspaper wrote.