"Mutual hostility": Kremlin removes Biden from New Year's greetings list

While the Ukrainian President wants to make India a peace mediator, Kremlin chief Putin continues to rely on China's head of state Xi.

"Mutual hostility": Kremlin removes Biden from New Year's greetings list

While the Ukrainian President wants to make India a peace mediator, Kremlin chief Putin continues to rely on China's head of state Xi. Relations between Moscow and Washington are now so icy that the Kremlin has removed Joe Biden from the New Year's greetings list.

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has removed US President Joe Biden from his list of New Year's wishes. "We are currently so deeply in mutual animosity that there will certainly be no congratulations," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency Interfax. According to Interfax, Peskov did not explain whether other heads of state and government of states that Russia has classified as unfriendly or hostile because of sanctions have to wait in vain for congratulations from Moscow on the New Year.

However, according to the Kremlin, Russia's president wants to speak to China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping by the turn of the year. "In fact, such a contact is being prepared," confirmed Peskow. The 55-year-old did not want to reveal anything about the format of the talks - a telephone call or a personal meeting. Relations between the two countries are considered good, despite the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In contrast to the talks with Xi, the Kremlin says it is not seeking contact with the West. Peskov denied that a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron was planned in the next few days.

Xi Jinping and Putin last met personally in September on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Chinese head of state also received Putin's predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, in Beijing last week. China has officially spoken out in favor of a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war, but has not condemned it and has not joined Western sanctions against Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping for India's help in implementing his so-called peace formula. He also thanks India for humanitarian aid and support at the United Nations, Zelenskyi wrote on Twitter after a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Selenskyj wants to specify his peace formula, which is intended to regulate a post-war order, at a peace summit. As a prerequisite, however, Kyiv demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

India, the second most populous country in the world, is neutral in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine because of its close ties with the West and Russia. The country also does not support Western sanctions and repeatedly promotes conflict resolution through dialogue. Recently, India bought more relatively cheap oil from Russia. New Delhi is also heavily dependent on Moscow for its military equipment and spare parts.

India's presidency of the group of large industrialized and emerging countries (G20) was also an issue during the call. Modi said addressing food and energy security concerns from developing countries is a priority for his country, Modi's office said.