MOSCOW. Sept 15 (Interfax) - There are no Russian servicemen in Mali, and Moscow is not conducting official talks to this end, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"There are no representatives of the Russian Armed Forces there. And there are no official talks there either. This is what we proceed from," Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.
Journalists asked Peskov to comment on a statement made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who said that Paris would withdraw its troops from Mali if mercenaries from the Wagner private military company begin operating in that country.
The TV5 television channel said, citing sources in Paris, that the authorities in Mali are allegedly considering an agreement with the Wagner private military company on training Malian servicemen and providing security for the leadership of Mali.