Spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin was watching closely all “statements and rhetoric” coming from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In contrast, the Russian Federation has been referred to as an “imitation democracy”. It has institutions that one would find in democratic systems of government (a parliament and a directly elected president). But, among other flaws, these institutions do not function within a genuinely competitive or fair electoral environment.

The president-elect had said Russia’s leader wanted to meet him to discuss the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said it welcomed such dialogue, but a meeting could occur only after Mr. Trump took office.

Russia’s president is said to have blamed birds or a Ukrainian drone for a Dec. 25 crash of an Azerbaijani plane. Azerbaijan says Russian air defenses were at fault.

A maritime security treaty signed this week between Ukraine and the United Kingdom drew a sharp response from the Kremlin on Friday, in particular with regard to a reference to the Azov Sea. "That is an internal sea of Russia.

There may be progress on setting up a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump only after the U.S. President-elect takes office, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.