Putin's G20 invitation, draft budget top Kremlin briefing agenda

Putin's G20 invitation, draft budget top Kremlin briefing agenda Russia appreciates the US invitation for Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami, Dmitry Peskov stressedRussian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov© Sergey Karpukhin/TASSMOSCOW, September 24. /TASS/. The US invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Miami, the draft federal budget for 2027-2029 submitted to the government and the Ukraine settlement were among the main topics at Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov's briefing on Thursday. TASS has compiled the key statements by the Kremlin spokesman. President's schedule - President Vladimir Putin will hold an operational meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council today. - The president also has several closed-door meetings on his schedule. Putin's invitation to G20 summit - Russia appreciates the US invitation for Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami: "We indeed appreciate this invitation, and we value it." - It is too early to discuss whether the Russian leader will travel to the G20 summit and meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump: "It is premature to talk about this for now. No decision has been made yet." - Russia will participate in G20 events in any case, while a decision on Putin's invitation will be made later: "It will be considered, and an appropriate decision will then be made. In any case, Russia intends to continue participating in the work of the G20 and all forums held within its framework." EU transfer of 8 bln euros in Russian asset proceeds to Ukraine - The European Union's transfer of 8 bln euros in proceeds from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine is illegal and amounts to theft: "We have repeatedly given our assessment of these actions. We consider them illegal. We indeed regard this as theft and treat it accordingly. Nothing has changed in our position." Ukraine settlement - Russia continues to adhere to its principled position on a peaceful settlement in Ukraine: "We reiterate that we are open to a peaceful settlement process, but we believe that the goal should be peace rather than a temporary ceasefire. Our position has not changed." - Vladimir Zelensky has not yet rejected Moscow's invitation to hold talks in the Russian capital: "Zelensky has not refused to come to Moscow, at least I have not heard him do so." - Zelensky "is making many statements now on the sidelines of the [UN] General Assembly in New York." Draft budget - The Kremlin declined to comment on planned changes outlined in the draft federal budget for 2027-2029 submitted to the government: "You need to address the government and the Finance Ministry. We are not the authors of the draft document and therefore do not comment on it." Prospects for Armenian PM's visit to Russia - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan may visit Russia in the near future, although an exact date has yet to be agreed: "The date has not yet been finalized. There is still an understanding, an agreement between the [Russian] president and the [Armenian] prime minister that such a visit will take place in the near future." - Russia respects Armenia's sovereign rights, but Yerevan needs to decide whether it wants to participate in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or the European Union (EU): "We respect all of Armenia's sovereign rights, but at the same time Armenia is part of the EAEU integration process, and a gradual reorientation toward other standards will not be compatible with EAEU norms in a wide range of areas. This is what we mean when we say that making a choice is very important." Reports of Kiev handing two North Korean POWs over to Seoul - The Kremlin has no information about reports that Ukraine handed two North Korean prisoners of war over to South Korea: "I have no information on this matter. Issues involving prisoners fall under the jurisdiction of our Defense Ministry and the special services. Contacts through the special services are continuing.". 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