No preparations for Putin-Trump phone call currently being made via diplomatic channels - Russian Deputy FM Ryabkov

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - No preparations for a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President-elect Donald Trump are currently being made via the Russian Foreign Ministry channels, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax on Friday.

"No preparatory work is being done in terms of coordinating and aligning the schedules or some more specific planning of a format for such a contact," Ryabkov said.

"The president also said at the Valdai [Discussion Club forum] that the situation surrounding phone calls is very specific and looks peculiar these days. But as an agency that arranges such contacts both in terms of securing some practical parameters and preparing their essence to some extend, at least in terms of providing documentary support, we stay permanently on alert," Ryabkov said.

"In this context, we are like some rapid response taskforce or, if you will, a firefighting squad that can engage and try to arrange this 24/7. But again, as for a prospect for such a contact, there is none now, and we aren't exploring it," he said.

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