Explanations of the Kremlin about the “red phone”
reported by Mehr News Agency quoted by Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that the special communication channel (red phone) between the former Soviet Union and the United States, which was established in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, is not active at this time. .
Pskov, referring to the inactivity of this communication channel, said: Currently, there is a special communication channel for the contact of the presidents of the two countries. In addition, this communication channel also has the feature of video conferencing.
Pskov added that in this recent period, no contact has been made through this new communication channel.
According to the Kremlin’s official website, the last phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart was made on February 12, 2022, before the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The Washington-Moscow emergency hotline was established after the Cuban Missile Crisis for emergency talks between the leaders of the former Soviet Union and the United States. This line was activated on August 30, 1963.
During the Cold War, this line was properly used in emergencies, but in recent years, the presidents of Russia and the United States have communicated directly by phone when necessary. . In 2016, the media reported that then US President Barack Obama apparently used a “red phone” to discuss allegations of meddling in the US election. However, the Kremlin denied this and emphasized that the conversation was made through a regular telephone line.
