Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent an advance congratulatory message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Republic Day, which Trkiye celebrates on October 29, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday. 'There are no plans for a phone call today, but, of course, a congratulatory message from the president of Russia was sent in advance,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters in Moscow.
According to Anadolu Agency, Republic Day marks the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Trkiye in 1923, when the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye declared the nation a republic and elected Mustafa Kemal Atatrk as its first president. The holiday is one of Trkiye's most significant national events.
Turning to developments in US-Venezuelan tensions, Peskov emphasized that all disputes should be resolved in line with international law. 'Venezuela is a sovereign state, and in any case, we proceed from the fact that everything that happens around Venezuela must happen in accordance with the spirit and letter of international law,' he said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has persistently claimed that the country faces its most serious invasion threat from the US in the past century.
According to US media, Washington accuses Caracas of failing to combat drug smuggling. In September, the US Navy deployed eight ships, a nuclear submarine, and about 10,000 troops to the Caribbean Sea, destroying at least nine high-speed boats allegedly used for drug trafficking. Reports indicated that US President Donald Trump ordered his administration to halt diplomatic efforts and consider strikes on suspected cartel facilities in Venezuela in the coming weeks.
Peskov noted that the Venezuelan issue has not been raised in recent Russian-American discussions. 'This issue was not discussed in any way, and it was not on the agenda,' he stated. Commenting on Trump's remarks about easing tensions between South Korea and North Korea, Peskov expressed that Moscow supports any initiatives that promote dialogue. 'We are ready to welcome any steps in this direction,' he asserted.