In a surprise move, the Kremlin denied reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration, sparking skepticism and adding fuel to the fire of tensions between Russia and the US.
Putin has not been invited to Trump’s inauguration, Moscow says
The Kremlin has denied reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th President of the United States. According to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, no official invitation was extended to Putin.
The news comes after it was reported that several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May, were in attendance at Trump’s inauguration ceremony held on January 20, 2017.
Reactions from Western Countries
Several Western countries have expressed surprise over the Kremlin’s denial. The US State Department released a statement saying that it had not received any information about an invitation being extended to Putin.
“This is consistent with our expectations and we don’t anticipate anything different,” said a senior US official. “We’re confident that the Russian President will make clear his views on this occasion.”
The British Prime Minister’s office also declined to comment, stating only that they had not received any information about an invitation being extended to Putin.
Implications for Russia-US Relations
The Kremlin’s denial has been met with skepticism by many in the Western media. Some have speculated that Putin may be using the inauguration as a pretext to claim that Trump is engaged in anti-Russian activities.
However, others have suggested that the Kremlin’s denial may simply be an attempt to save face after the US election.
Regardless of the motivations behind it, the Kremlin’s denial has added fuel to the fire of tensions between Russia and the United States. The two countries have already clashed over a range of issues, including election interference allegations and sanctions.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States will be remembered for years to come – and it may have significant implications for Russia-US relations.
