New phone call between Putin, Macron not ruled out, active phone diplomacy underway - Peskov

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - The Kremlin has said it does not rule out a new phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"Now almost every other day Putin talks with Macron, so of course nothing can be ruled out. There is very active work in terms of telephone diplomacy," Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, when asked by reporters to confirm information about a phone call between the Russian and French presidents scheduled for Saturday.

"There are no specific plans yet, but this does not mean that it [a phone call] cannot take place," Peskov said.

When asked whether former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder actually met with Putin in Moscow, Peskov said, "I have no information about Schroeder. I can't say anything."

"At one stage or another, the fruitfulness of such negotiations may leave much to be desired, but they are definitely needed, they are in demand, they have always been supported and are being supported by President Putin, by the Russian side," Peskov said, commenting on numerous international talks and contacts of the Russian leadership and their usefulness.

"Vladimir Putin has always been a proponent of the negotiation process and diplomacy," Peskov added.