Peskov: Surkov, Nuland hold expert dialogue on settlement in Ukraine

(Interfax – January 20, 2016)

The negotiations held between Russian Presidential Aide Vladislav Surkov and Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State, in Kaliningrad with regard to the settlement in Ukraine were an expert exchange of opinions between Moscow and Washington, which is not a member of the ‘Normandy Four’, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.

“Speaking of these negotiations, this is the question of an expert dialogue between Moscow and Washington. You know that the United States is not a participant in the ‘Normandy process’,” Peskov told reporters on Jan. 20.

“At the same time, everyone is obviously interested in the ability of the United States to receive first-hand information without being a participant in the ‘Normandy process’,” the press secretary said.

The meaning of the negotiations between Surkov and Nuland was, in particular, to inform the United States about the developments in the ‘Normandy process’, Peskov said.

“Of course, they have also exchanged opinions, informed each other about their positions, which is the most comfortable and productive to do at such working meetings,” the presidential press secretary said.

Surkov “is dealing with this issue, and this is not a secret, so, he makes constant reports to the president about the issues overseen by him,” Peskov said.