Russia refuses to comment on Trump's cabinet picks

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on US President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees, emphasizing that Russia does not interfere in America's internal affairs.

Asked about Trump’s selection of former Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state, Peskov said: “We do not interfere in domestic American matters. We have no intention of doing so. In fact, we have never done this and are not doing it now.”

Rubio is known for his conservative stance, advocates for reducing aid to Ukraine, but also identifies himself as an “anti-communist,” frequently criticizing the governments of Cuba and China.

Trump has also named a national security adviser, a health secretary, an ambassador to the UN and an environmental protection agency head, among many others.

Turning to Russian-Chinese relations, Peskov described them as a privileged strategic partnership, expressing Moscow’s satisfaction with Beijing’s political commitment to the relationship.

The official underscored the importance of recent high-level interactions, including Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoygu’s recent trip to China as part of an ongoing comprehensive bilateral dialogue.

Shoygu’s working visit to China on Nov. 11-14 included meetings with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other senior officials. He also attended the international Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai.