Russia says White House cannot publish Trump-Putin phone calls without its permission
‘This is a certain diplomatic practice,’ says Kremlin spokesperson
The Kremlin said on Monday that Washington would need Russian consent to publish transcripts of phone calls between the US president, Donald Trump, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
Congress is determined to get access to Mr Trump’s calls with Mr Putin and other world leaders, the US House Intelligence Committee’s chairman said on Sunday, citing concerns that the Republican president may have jeopardised national security.
Asked about those comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia would be prepared to discuss the issue with Washington if it sent Moscow a signal.
However, he said such disclosures were not normal diplomatic practice.
“Of course their publication is to some extent only possible by mutual agreement of the parties. This is a certain diplomatic practice,” Mr Peskov said.
Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam
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Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam
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Members of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, jeer at anti-Trump protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
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A supporter dressed as Uncle Sam poses at Uncle Sam
Reuters
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A baby blimp rears its head amidst a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the president't campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
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President Trump addresses supporters at the launch event of his 2020 election campaign in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
5/30
Proud Boys have adopted Fred Perry polo shirts as their uniform and many members have the name of the group tattooed on their arms
Getty
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A line of police officers separate opposing groups of protesters outside the launch of President Trump's 2020 campaign launch
Getty
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A protester hits a Trump punching bag during a protest outside Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
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Twin Trump supporters pose for a photo at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
9/30
A protester dressed as a caricature of Donald Trump stands outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
10/30
A Trump supporter faces off against a protester outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
11/30
A Proud Boy shouts across the police line at anti-Trump protesters outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
12/30
A Trump supporter poses for a photo at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
13/30
A Proud Boy jeers at anti-Trump protesters who are separated from the president's supporters by a police line outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
14/30
A man dressed as Uncle Sam poses at President Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
15/30
An anti-Trump protester faces off against a supporter outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
16/30
Members of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, jeer at anti-Trump protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch
Getty
17/30
A child holds a 2020 US "dollar bill" that features Donald Trump's face at the president's 2020 campaign launch
EPA
18/30
Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
19/30
Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
20/30
Numerous baby Trump balloons are raised in protests outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
21/30
A supporter wears a T-shirt depicting Trump as a hero at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
22/30
President Trump addresses supporters at the launch event of his 2020 election campaign in the Amway Centre in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
23/30
An anti-Trump protester calls for the president to be impeached outside the launch event for his 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
24/30
Supporters of Donald Trump face off against protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
25/30
A baby blimp rises behind a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
26/30
A supporter dressed as Uncle Sam poses at President Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
27/30
A member of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, holds a sign up outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
28/30
A supporter bears a Trump flag at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
29/30
Protesters hold baby Trump balloons in the rally outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
30/30
An anti-Trump protester holds a sign accusing the president of being a traitor
Getty
1/30
Members of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, jeer at anti-Trump protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
2/30
A supporter dressed as Uncle Sam poses at Uncle Sam
Reuters
3/30
A baby blimp rears its head amidst a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the president't campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
4/30
President Trump addresses supporters at the launch event of his 2020 election campaign in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
5/30
Proud Boys have adopted Fred Perry polo shirts as their uniform and many members have the name of the group tattooed on their arms
Getty
6/30
A line of police officers separate opposing groups of protesters outside the launch of President Trump's 2020 campaign launch
Getty
7/30
A protester hits a Trump punching bag during a protest outside Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
8/30
Twin Trump supporters pose for a photo at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
9/30
A protester dressed as a caricature of Donald Trump stands outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
10/30
A Trump supporter faces off against a protester outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
11/30
A Proud Boy shouts across the police line at anti-Trump protesters outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
12/30
A Trump supporter poses for a photo at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
13/30
A Proud Boy jeers at anti-Trump protesters who are separated from the president's supporters by a police line outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
14/30
A man dressed as Uncle Sam poses at President Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
15/30
An anti-Trump protester faces off against a supporter outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
16/30
Members of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, jeer at anti-Trump protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch
Getty
17/30
A child holds a 2020 US "dollar bill" that features Donald Trump's face at the president's 2020 campaign launch
EPA
18/30
Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
19/30
Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
20/30
Numerous baby Trump balloons are raised in protests outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
21/30
A supporter wears a T-shirt depicting Trump as a hero at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
22/30
President Trump addresses supporters at the launch event of his 2020 election campaign in the Amway Centre in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
23/30
An anti-Trump protester calls for the president to be impeached outside the launch event for his 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
24/30
Supporters of Donald Trump face off against protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
25/30
A baby blimp rises behind a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
26/30
A supporter dressed as Uncle Sam poses at President Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AP
27/30
A member of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, holds a sign up outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
AFP/Getty
28/30
A supporter bears a Trump flag at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Reuters
29/30
Protesters hold baby Trump balloons in the rally outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
Getty
30/30
An anti-Trump protester holds a sign accusing the president of being a traitor
Getty
“To be more specific, perhaps, diplomatic practice in general does not envisage their publication,” he said.
“If there are some signals from the Americans, then we will discuss (them).”
The Democratic-led House last week launched an impeachment inquiry into Mr Trump in the aftermath of a whistleblower complaint alleging that the US president had solicited interference by Ukraine in the 2020 US election for his own political benefit.
The White House released a memo summarising Mr Trump’s 25 July phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukranian president, after the allegations set off a US domestic political storm.
Reuters
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