MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied reports saying that U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Keith Kellogg has been excluded from Russia-U.S. talks on Ukraine at Moscow's request.
Reporters asked Peskov on Friday to confirm the reports that the United States had withdrawn Kellogg from the negotiating process for that reason.
"No, I cannot confirm this. Perhaps, it would be absurd to think that the Russian side can interfere with U.S. internal affairs: we do not have the slightest intention to do it. As we have said, any relations must be based on mutual respect. Given the mutual respect, of course, we will not interfere with domestic affairs of the Americans. It's their choice who shall be appointed and who shall not. So, no, I absolutely cannot confirm this," Peskov said.