On a quiet December Sunday, the Kremlin's spokesman spoke of a channel that stands open but unused: no call between Putin and Trump is on the calendar, yet one could be arranged on short notice. In the same briefing, attention turned to St. Petersburg, where Putin is set to meet the leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Belarus and to preside over a peace prize already awarded months ago. Such moments, in which two powers hold their hands near the telephone without lifting it, have long marked the rhythm of diplomacy between nations that speak often but rarely settle anything in a single sentence.
Kremlin: No Putin-Trump Call Scheduled, but One Could Be Arranged Quickly
Not yet scheduled, but it can be arranged quickly
Mark
So the headline is that there's no call. Why is that worth reporting?
Mimi
Because of how Peskov put it. No call is scheduled, but one could be arranged quickly. That leaves the door open without committing to anything.
Luke
Worth saying that's all we have. It's one spokesman's statement. We don't know whether any contact is being discussed behind the scenes.
Mark
And the Christmas question?
Mimi
He neither confirmed nor denied. If Putin decides to send wishes, the Kremlin will announce it.
Luke
So it's not a hint of anything. It's a non-answer, and we shouldn't read more into it.
Mark
What's actually firm on the calendar?
Mimi
Meetings in St. Petersburg with Japarov of Kyrgyzstan and Lukashenko of Belarus, on Sunday or Monday, plus the International Peace Prize ceremony for Japarov, Rahmon and Mirziyoyev.
Luke
Though Peskov said talks would happen with all leaders who come, so the exact guest list and timing are still loose. And the prize was awarded months ago, so the ceremony is a formality.
Mark
And the Q&A and press conference?
Mimi
Undecided on format. Whether they're one event or two depends on Putin's schedule.
Luke
No date given either. That's still unknown.
O Pulso
- The Kremlin has said no Putin-Trump call is scheduled, but it can be arranged quickly if needed.
- Peskov refused to say whether Putin will send Trump a Christmas greeting, promising only that any such move would be announced.
- Putin's talks with Japarov and Lukashenko are set for Sunday or Monday in St. Petersburg, with every visiting leader to be met.
- A peace prize presentation to Japarov, Rahmon and Mirziyoyev will go ahead as a formal ceremony for honors decided months earlier.
- Dates and format for Putin's annual Q&A and year-end press conference remain unset, depending on his schedule.
On a quiet December Sunday, the Kremlin's spokesman spoke of a channel that stands open but unused: no call between Putin and Trump is on the calendar, yet one could be arranged on short notice. In the same briefing, attention turned to St. Petersburg, where Putin is set to meet the leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Belarus and to preside over a peace prize already awarded months ago. Such moments, in which two powers hold their hands near the telephone without lifting it, have long marked the rhythm of diplomacy between nations that speak often but rarely settle anything in a single sentence.
On Sunday, December 21, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Vladimir Putin has no phone call with Donald Trump on his schedule. But he was quick to add that things could change fast, and that a call could be arranged quickly if needed.
When asked whether Putin intends to wish Trump a merry Christmas, Peskov neither confirmed nor denied it. If the Russian president decides to send greetings, he said, the Kremlin will announce it.
The bulk of the briefing turned to Putin's calendar in St. Petersburg. He will hold bilateral talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and with every other leader who comes to the city, on Sunday or Monday. A ceremony is also planned in which Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev receive the International Peace Prize. Peskov called it very important, though the honor was decided months ago.
He offered no dates or format for Putin's annual Q&A and end-of-year press conference, saying only that whether they are held separately depends on the president's schedule.
For now the Putin-Trump channel remains open but silent. The concrete events are in St. Petersburg, and the open questions are whether a Christmas message follows and how the year-end appearances are arranged.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, December 21, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no phone call with US President Donald Trump on his schedule. He added that the situation could change fast. A call, in his words, is not yet scheduled but can be arranged quickly if necessary.
Peskov was also asked whether Putin intends to wish Trump a merry Christmas. He did not say yes or no. If the Russian president decides to do so, he said, the Kremlin will announce it.
The rest of Peskov's briefing concerned Putin's calendar in St. Petersburg. Putin will hold bilateral meetings there with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Peskov said Putin will hold talks with all the leaders who come to the city in one way or another, and that this will definitely happen on Sunday or Monday.
There is also a ceremony on the program. Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev are to receive the International Peace Prize. Peskov called the ceremony very important. The three were awarded the prize months ago, so the event in St. Petersburg is the formal presentation of an honor already decided.
Peskov also addressed Putin's annual Q&A session and his end-of-year press conference. Whether the two will be held as separate events, he said, depends on the president's schedule. No dates or format were given.
Taken together, the briefing offered little that is firm on the Putin-Trump channel: no call is planned, none is ruled out, and the Kremlin says it can move quickly. The St. Petersburg meetings and the prize ceremony are the concrete items for the next two days. What remains to be seen is whether a Christmas call or message to Trump is announced, and how the Q&A and year-end press conference are arranged.
Citações Notáveis
It is not yet scheduled, but it can be arranged quickly if necessary.— Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman
The Kremlin will announce a Christmas greeting to Trump if Putin decides to send one.— Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman (paraphrased)
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