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Wladimir Putin
Photo: Wang Zhao / AFP
According to the Kremlin, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will not receive any New Year's greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin - unlike former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
"We have no contact with them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
"And given the constant unfriendly actions they undertake, the President will not send them greetings." Putin does not receive any from the three politicians either.
The Russian head of state has already wished other top politicians a Happy New Year 2023.
According to the Kremlin, Putin also sent his best wishes for the New Year to two former heads of government: the Social Democrat Schröder and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
According to a list published on Friday, Putin also sent greetings to the heads of state and government in China, Turkey, India, Venezuela and Syria.
Putin even spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the phone.
China does not want to take a position on the war in Ukraine
China does not want to take a position on the war in Ukraine.
Xi Jinping told the Russian leader at a video conference on Friday that China wanted to maintain its "objective and fair" stance, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
China has noted that Russia has never refused to negotiate a solution to the conflict, Xi is quoted as saying.
However, the road to peace talks will not run smoothly.
At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, China had stressed that it was in no way part of the conflict.
Putin admitted in September that Xi had questions and concerns about the war.
At the start of their video conference, the two Presidents underlined the importance of their countries' close ties.
According to Russian television, Putin said that Russian-Chinese relations are becoming increasingly important as a stabilizing factor.
He is also striving to deepen military cooperation.
This was not mentioned in the Chinese state television report.
Putin announced that Xi would come to Moscow for a meeting in the spring.
This visit will "demonstrate to the world the closeness of Russian-Chinese relations".
Xi demonstrated unity in his attitude towards the US-dominated West.
It has been shown repeatedly that wanting to dominate and oppression are unpopular, Xi said.
"Sanctions and interference are doomed to failure."
dop/AFP/Reuters
