10 Oct 2018 15:43

Peskov declines to discuss report of Surkov's meeting with DPR acting head

MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said he cannot provide official information that presidential aide Vladislav Surkov met with Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Alexei Chesnakov, the director of the Center for Current Politics, spoke about such a meeting earlier

"It's better to ask Chesnakov to explain where he got this information from. I cannot tell you anything official on this matter," Peskov said.

Asked whether Moscow's plans include raising living standards in the self-proclaimed republics, Peskov said, "The Kremlin would welcome higher living standards in these territories, which have been rejected by Kyiv in terms of socio-economic [development]."

"Russia provides constant humanitarian assistance to Donbas. It will continue this practice, but I can't say who's going to be raising which wages," Peskov said.