UPDATE - Russia 'highly appreciates' Turkish president's efforts for peace

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY PRESIDENTIAL AID YURY USHAKOV

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia highly appreciates Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's efforts for peace.

"We highly appreciate Mr. Erdogan's efforts, his peacekeeping activities, his attempts to provide mediation services, and his attitude to the development of bilateral Russian-Turkish relations," Peskov said a press briefing in Moscow, commenting on an idea to nominate the Turkish leader for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Turning to the upcoming three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Peskov said March 21 will be the day of talks, while on March 20, Putin and Xi will take part in informal events.

About controversial reports on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Peskov said Russia agreed for a 60-day term.

Peskov also criticized the eviction of monks from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in Ukraine's capital, regretting that "these illegal actions of the Kyiv regime do not receive proper condemnation from the international community."

"We condemn them in the strongest terms. The Kyiv regime once again demonstrates its character by these illegal actions, encroachments on the church. ... This once again proves and shows that everything we do is absolutely right," he said.

On Warsaw's decision to supply the MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, Peskov said it is "another example of how a number of member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, including Poland, increase the level of their direct involvement in the conflict."

"Of course, during a special military operation, all this equipment will be subject to destruction," he said.

The plans of Slovakia and Poland to transfer the MiG-29 to Ukraine look like the disposal of the unnecessary, Peskov added.

"It seems that these countries are thus engaged in the disposal of old unnecessary equipment," he added.

- Russian presidential aid briefs on details of Russian-Chinese presidential meeting

In a separate statement, presidential aid Yury Ushakov said Moscow attaches "great importance" to the upcoming informal closed-door meeting on March 20, because key issues will be discussed there.

The same day, Putin will address a parliamentary meeting on Russia-Africa in Saint Petersburg, he said.

On March 21, apart from Putin, Xi will also meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Ushakov added.

Ushakov added that the "peculiarity of this state visit" is that there will be no additional "protocol stuff."

Ahead of the visit, Putin and Xi will publish articles in state newspapers -- Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Renmin Ribao.

"We have no doubt that the upcoming negotiations will give a new powerful impetus to the development of the entire range of bilateral cooperation," he said.

The official said both Moscow and Beijing are satisfied about the state of bilateral relations, which have "reached the highest level in history and continue to actively gain momentum."

"In this relationship, there is no leader, no disciple, there are no restrictions, there are no forbidden measures. We are talking about the strategic interaction of two partners who trust each other and in many ways share the same goals, the same tasks," he said.

After the talks, the Russian and Chinese presidents will sign two documents -- joint statement on deepening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, and a joint statement on the plan for the development of key areas of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation until 2030.

Ushakov said Putin and Xi will exchange of opinions regarding the situation in Ukraine, military and technical cooperation, energy projects.

Turning to other topics, Ushakov said he twice offered the Danish charge d'affaires a joint investigation into the explosions of Nord Streams gas pipelines, but the answer was "unclear."

"It was said that, given the location of the facility, the Danish authorities are currently assessing safety and environmental aspects and will inform the Russian side on these issues in due course. Here is the answer (received), which the Danish foreign minister 'deciphered' yesterday -- Denmark will not allow Russia (to participate in the investigation)," he said.

He called such a position "completely unconstructive", noting that this kind of investigation will lack objectivity.

Ushakov said a cylindrical object 30-40 cm high was found on Feb. 21 attached to the one of the gas pipelines in the exclusive economic zone of Denmark.

"What is very important, attached to the junction of the pipes, which is important in terms of possible detonation, that could be an element of an explosive device," he said.

Asked when the new US ambassador is going to present credentials to the Russian president, Ushakov said the relevant ceremony is scheduled for April.