(Moscow) Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed “regional conflicts” by telephone with CIA boss William Burns, who visited Russia last week, the Kremlin said on Monday.
The visit of Mr. Burns, often presented as the most seasoned diplomat in his country, was carried out on November 2 and 3 at the request of President Joe Biden, according to the United States embassy in Moscow.
According to the American television station CNN, Mr. Burns would have been dispatched to Moscow to “warn” Russia against any reinforcement of its troops near the Russian-Ukrainian border and would have spoken by telephone with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the outcome of its discussions in Russia.
PHOTO POOL, REUTERS
William burns
Between Vladimir Poutine and William Burns, “a telephone conversation took place” within the framework of this visit, declared Monday to the press the spokesman of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov.
They spoke of bilateral relations, the diplomatic crisis between the two countries and “exchanged opinions on regional conflicts,” he added, without further details.
Mr. Burns’ visit, which was not announced by Washington, came as relations between Russia and the United States are plagued by a series of high-profile disputes, including the conflict in Ukraine.
In early November, Ukraine denied a reinforcement of Moscow’s troops near its eastern border, after US media raised concerns about Russian military movements in the region.
The Donbass region in eastern Ukraine has been in the throes of a war since 2014 that has left more than 13,000 dead between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists, of which the Kremlin is considered the military godfather despite his denials.